Obama HQ

Weekly Address: Gas Prices & Energy Security

Josh Cohen — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 13:37:03 EDT

Speaking from a UPS customer center, President Obama announces a new public-private program, the Green Fleet Partnership, and discusses his Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future that will help create jobs and provide America greater energy stability.

Green Fleet Initiative

Mary Hough — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:10:43 EDT

The President today laid out a number of measures to help America shift to a clean energy economy, reducing our dependence on oil, protecting our planet, and spurring economic growth through cleaner and more efficient, cars, and trucks.

[O]ne of the best ways to reduce our dependence on oil is by making our cars and trucks more energy efficient, because transportation accounts for more than 70 percent of America’s oil consumption. And by the way, using energy efficient cars and trucks also makes economic sense, because transportation is one of the biggest costs for many businesses and families. So, energy-efficient cars and trucks won’t just cut our dependence on oil; they’ll save us money.
If we’re serious about making the transition from gas-guzzlers to hybrids, we need to show automakers that there’s a real market for these vehicles. We need to show them that if they manufacture fuel efficient cars and trucks, people will actually buy them. In other words, we need to put our money where our mouth is.
I’m proud to say this is one place where the government is leading by example. Right now, the government’s fleet includes more than 600,000 vehicles, making it the single largest fleet in America. That means we have considerable purchasing power, and we’re using it to boost clean energy technologies. Already, we’ve doubled the number of federal cars and trucks that are hybrids, and I’m directing our departments and agencies to make sure 100 percent of the vehicles they buy are fuel-efficient or clean energy cars and trucks by 2015. Not 50 percent, not 75 percent, but 100 percent of our vehicles.

Alongside efforts by the federal government, the President set out measures to help the private sector shift to more fuel-efficient vehicles:

That’s why we’re launching a National Clean Fleets Partnership. If you’re a business that needs to transport goods, I’m challenging you to replace your old fleet with a clean energy fleet that’s not only good for your bottom line, but good for our economy, good for our country, and good for our planet. And if you accept this challenge and join our Clean Fleets Partnership, we’ll make a number of tools available—from technical assistance to cutting-edge research and development—that will help you make the transition to a clean energy fleet.

It’s not just about fleets of vehicles there are measures for all cars and trucks on America’s roads. Last year, a national fuel-efficiency standard for cars and trucks was introduced, meaning that new cars will get better gas mileage and this year the first-ever fuel standards for heavy-duty trucks will be announced.

Earlier this week President Obama set a goal for reducing the amount of oil America imports by a third, the measures set out today will help achieve that goal.

“I will not be satisfied until every American who wants a good job can find one”

Mary Hough — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 16:38:56 EDT

Figures released by the U.S. Labor Department, this morning, show that unemployment has fallen to 8.8%. Speaking earlier today, President Obama said:

Nearly two years after one of the worst recessions we’ve ever seen, our economy is showing signs of real strength. Today we learned that we added 230,000 private sector jobs last month. That makes 1.8 million private sector jobs created in the last thirteen months. And the unemployment rate has now fallen a full point in the last four months. The last time that happened was the recovery of 1984.
Now, despite this good news, we still have plenty of work to do. There are still millions of Americans looking for a job that pays the bills. I know there’s a lot going on in the world, and the news is filled with images of the Middle East and Japan, but you should know that keeping the economy growing and making sure jobs are available is the first thing I think about when I wake up every morning. It’s the last thing I think about when I go to bed each night. And I will not be satisfied until every American who wants a good job can find one; until every family gets a shot at the American Dream. That’s our North Star. That’s what we’re fighting for.

The March Employment Situation: 216,000 Jobs Gained

Josh Cohen — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:27:04 EDT

Today, the U.S. Labor Department announced that our economy added 216,000 jobs in March, marking 13 consecutive months of growth and totaling more than 1.8 million jobs created over that same period. The unemployment rate also fell to 8.8 percent, which is a full percentage point drop during the past four months and the steepest decline since 1984 over that same period.

Additionally, the Labor Department revised upward the number of jobs created during the previous two months, estimating that the private sector grew by 94,000 in January (from 68,000) and by 240,000 in February (from 222,000).

This news represents a positive trend that America’s economy is growing and creating jobs, but far too many people are still out of work and the pace of the recovery remains too slow. The policies enacted by President Obama over the past two years have created steady economic growth, a drastic change from the economy he inherited, which was shedding hundreds of thousands of jobs per month.

The President will continue supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses, collaborating with job creators to eliminate barriers to hiring, and fighting for families struggling to make ends meet.

Watch: President Obama Delivers Speech on Energy Policy—Today at 12:20 p.m. ET

Mary Hough — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:33:10 EDT

Speaking this afternoon, the President will highlight the National Clean Fleets Partnership—you can watch the speech live online here.

The National Clean Fleets Partnership is a public-private partnership that will help large companies reduce diesel and gasoline use in their fleets, by incorporating electric vehicles, alternative fuels, and fuel-saving measures into their operations. Earlier this week, the President set a goal of reducing the amount of oil America imports by one-third.

You can watch today’s remarks live online at 12:20 p.m. ET.

“Making an Impact”: OFA Summer Organizer Program

Mary Hough — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:00:48 EDT

For Becca Siegel, being an OFA summer organizer was so rewarding that she took part in the program two years in a row. This summer, OFA is recruiting hard working and dedicated folks like Becca to be summer organizers. You can find out more about the program here.

Q. Why did you apply to be a summer organizer?

A. As a student, deciding how to spend your summer is always a balancing act between what you want to do and what opportunity will be the best resume builder. For the past two summers I’ve found an experience that allowed me to strike that balance—as a summer organizer in Colorado.

Q. What did you do each summer?

A. I built neighborhood teams, organized volunteers, and planned events centered around issues like health reform, and in support of Democratic candidates during the 2010 midterm elections. Each day brought new opportunities and challenges: a meeting with a local activist followed by voter registration at an outdoor concert; a conference call to share best practices with other organizers from around the country followed by volunteering at a community health clinic; a morning canvass in support of a senatorial candidate followed by a rally or an organizational meeting.

Q. What did you learn?

A. During the school year, I am a student at Stanford University. My experience as a summer organizer has served me incredibly well as both a student and a public servant. I helped coordinate voter registration on my own college campus and in surrounding areas, organized workshops for young leaders, and arranged policy events.

My experiences personally empowered me in ways I never could have imagined. I learned how to interact with people of all different backgrounds, I am more focused on individual tasks yet have a better sense of the big picture, and I know how to work as a team player. Most importantly, I now understand that with a lot of hard work, patience, creativity and passion, even the biggest tasks that once seemed impossible to overcome can be accomplished.

Q. Would you recommend the Summer Organizer Program to folks thinking of applying?

A. Absolutely. While most of my friends were sweating away their summers as interns in faceless office buildings, dreading each day that they had to make coffee and file papers, I was out on the field making real connections within communities. I was working with the most talented organizers I know, and making changes that I actually cared about.

As a summer organizer with Organizing for America I had the unique opportunity to develop skills for the future while making a truly meaningful impact on my community and my country. The work was often challenging, but the results were incredibly rewarding.

To have the chance to spend your summer working with folks like Becca and making a difference in your community, apply to take part in OFA's Summer Organizer Program here.

Volunteer Spotlight

Mary Hough — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:22:54 EDT

Organizing for America couldn’t exist without the hard work and dedication of volunteers in towns and neighborhoods across the country—who come together to make a difference in their community.

Margy from Rhode Island first became involved with OFA in 2009 during the fight for health reform, making calls to voters in Maine and Ohio, urging them to call their representatives. After the fight for health reform, Margy caught the organizing bug and stayed involved during the mid term elections. Speaking to Maureen Murray from OFA Rhode Island, Margy said:

Calling and talking with voters during OFA phone banks was a wonderful experience in providing accurate and reliable information to voters. I found talking with senior citizens particularly rewarding since they were almost always eager to talk, willing to share, and positive about having been called.
I continue to support President Obama’s work on our recovery, and I’m so pleased that our efforts in Rhode Island were successful.

There are many different ways that volunteers can help out. Shelia, a small business owner from St Louis, Missouri, uses her local connections to help OFA reach out to folks in her neighborhood, as well as hosting a staging location for volunteers and canvassers. Speaking to Marty Crimmins, OFA Missouri new media director, Shelia said:

The President asked citizens early on to stay involved in order to make positive change within our communities. He also said the work would not be easy and change will take time. This is why I am giving OFA my time in order to achieve change. Staying involved with OFA keeps me informed and up-to-date on important issues happening in Washington D.C.—issues that impact me and my community.

In Fort Collins, Colorado, Suzanne started out as a volunteer for Obama during the Iowa caucuses. Now a neighborhood team leader, Suzanne plays a key role in her community:

We know that we’re growing as volunteers—acquiring new skills and confidence in what we can do—but I’d like to think that we have our fingers on the pulse of the voters. We talk to them during phone banks, canvasses, etc., and I would like to make sure that what we learn about what people are thinking and feeling is going up the line to be used by decision makers. If we don’t, we’re missing out!

Margy, Sheila, Suzanne, and the thousands of volunteers across the country are essential to the success of OFA. If you’d like to make a difference in your, find out more about volunteering with OFA here.

President Obama’s Plan to Secure America’s Energy Future

Josh Cohen — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:56:45 EDT

As turmoil around the world continues and gas prices climb higher, President Obama today called for a renewed effort to secure our country’s energy future. For too long, America has been beholden to unstable and fluctuating oil-markets, an addiction that affects prices at the pump, the cost of groceries, and the ability of families to heat their homes.

Today, the President outlined a plan to shake America’s age-old dependence on oil and usher in a new era of cleaner, sustainable, and affordable sources of energy. And the time to act is now:

We cannot keep going from shock to trance on the issue of energy security, rushing to propose action when gas prices rise, then hitting the snooze button when they fall again. The United States of America cannot afford to bet our long-term prosperity and security on a resource that will eventually run out. Not anymore.

President Obama set a new goal for our country: reduce the amount of oil imported by one-third by 2025. The administration released A Blueprint for A Secure Energy Future that establishes two bottom-line goals:

Find and produce more oil at home;
Reduce our dependence on oil with cleaner alternative fuels and greater efficiency.

Part of the short-term way to address America’s energy challenge, the administration is encouraging greater offshore oil exploration and production – taking careful precaution to ensure that companies meet standards of safety and responsibility.

However, President Obama made it clear that additional oil production is not a sustainable solution. The President’s plan calls for added collaboration with international partners to increase natural gas supplies and bioenergy production:

[N]ot just ethanol, but biofuels made from things like switchgrass, wood chips, and biomass.

If anyone doubts the potential of these fuels, consider Brazil. Already, more than half – half – of Brazil’s vehicles can run on biofuels. And just last week, our Air Force used an advanced biofuel blend to fly an F-22 Raptor faster than the speed of sound. In fact, the Air Force is aiming to get half of its domestic jet fuel from alternative sources by 2016.

America will work to phase out oil as a primary energy source, but in the meantime, we can accelerate those efforts by making our cars and trucks more efficient as well – 70 percent of oil consumption goes to transportation. That means higher fuel-efficiency standards, which will increase gas mileage, save billions of barrels of oil, and putting thousands of dollars back in the pockets of families.

And the President is ensuring that the federal government will lead by example. He is directing agencies to purchase only alternative fuel, hybrid, or electric vehicles by 2015 – the federal government’s fleet is among the largest in the country. The administration has also made record investments in high-speed rail and mass transit, providing an efficient and cleaner alternative for urban, suburban, and rural Americans.

However, these efforts will not reach their full potential without opening the markets for clean energy. The administration is working with businesses and entrepreneurs to achieve the goal of generating 80 percent of America’s electricity from clean energy sources by 2035.

It also means making residential, commercial, and industrial buildings more energy efficient. In fact, the administration is already on track to weatherize 600,000 low-income homes through the Recovery Act – and implementing initiatives, such as the HOMESTAR program to help homeowners finance retrofits and the “Better Buildings Initiative” to make commercial facilities 20 percent more efficient by 2020.

In his closing remarks, President Obama spoke directly to the Georgetown students in the audience about the energy challenges confronting our country and the role they must play in helping to find the solutions:

I don’t want to leave this challenge for future presidents. I don’t want to leave it for my children. And I do not want to leave it for yours. Solving it will take time and effort. It will require our brightest scientists, our most creative companies, and, most importantly, all of us – Democrats, Republicans, and everyone in between – to do our part. But with confidence – in America, in ourselves, and in one another – I know it is a challenge we will solve.

Click here to read the President’s full remarks.

Today At 11:20 A.M. ET President Obama Speaks About America’s Energy Security

Josh Cohen — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:01:04 EDT

Today, at 11:20 a.m. Eastern Time, President Obama will deliver a speech at Georgetown University regarding the future of America’s energy security. This speech will outline the President’s plan to diversify our country’s energy portfolio, reducing our dependence on foreign oil while also developing and producing cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. It’s a plan to help create jobs and ensure greater stability for American families.

Watch the speech live at whitehouse.gov/live beginning at 11:20 a.m. ET.

“The Next Generation of Great American Teachers”

Mary Hough — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:10:38 EDT

Throughout March, President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan have been visiting schools around the country talking to students, parents, and teachers about the best ways to make sure that all our students get the best possible education.

At the heart of a good education, is a good teacher. Writing on the White House blog, Education Secretary, Arne Duncan, lays out how the administration is helping recruit the next generation of great teachers.

One of the greatest challenges facing our country is the coming retirement of more than 1 million baby boomer teachers. This challenge has presented us with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help reshape education in America by recruiting and training the next generation of great American teachers.
Teaching is a rewarding and challenging profession where you can make a lasting impact. Teachers have a positive influence on students, schools, and communities, now and into the future. Schools across the nation are in need of a diverse set of talented teachers, especially in our big cities and rural areas, and especially in the areas of math, science, technology, special education, and English language learning.
That’s why the department launched the TEACH campaign—a bold new initiative to inspire and empower the most talented and dedicated Americans to become teachers. We know that, next to parental support, there is nothing more important to a child’s education than the quality of his or her teachers.
Together, we can change the face of American education. We can recruit the next generation of great American teachers.

You can find out more about the TEACH campaign here, and watch the President’s town hall on education here.

Latinos and Education Town Hall

Mary Hough — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:37:40 EDT

President Obama took part in a town hall meeting on education at Bell Multicultural High School, a dual-language school situated in Washington, D.C. The event was hosted by the Spanish-language channel Univision—you can watch it online here in English and here in Spanish.

Hispanics are both the largest and fastest-growing minority group (currently 54 million), and yet they have the lowest education attainment levels of any group in the country. Answering questions from students, parents, and teachers yesterday, the President addressed many of the issues that are a barrier to success.

Drop-out rates

This is an issue that’s not just important for the Latino community here in the United States; this is an issue that is critical for the success of America generally, because we already have a situation where one out of five students are Latino in our schools, and when you look at those who are 10 years old or younger, it’s actually one in four. So what this means is, is that our workforce is going to be more diverse; it is going to be, to a large percentage, Latino. And if our young people are not getting the kind of education they need, we won’t succeed as a nation.
Now, there are some things that we know work. To the extent that young people are getting a good start in school and are falling behind, they’re less likely to drop out. So that’s why it’s important for us to invest in early childhood education. And my budget makes sure that we put more money into that. In K through 12, we’ve got to make sure that we’ve got the highest-quality teachers. We have to make sure that we have parental involvement so that we are building a culture in our community.

Language barriers for Spanish-speaking parents

Now, if they don't speak English, then it’s important for those schools to think about strategies to have translators in the schools to help them communicate with the teachers and the principals. If it turns out that the school budgets are tight and they can’t afford to hire translators, then we should enlist community members who are bilingual to come in and volunteer on parent-teacher meetings.

Bullying

We had a conference at the White House where we convened interested groups from across the country—parent organizations, philanthropies, student organizations—to find ways that—strategies that we could put in place to reduce bullying.
Now, one of the most powerful tools, it turns out, is students themselves. And there are schools where young people have done surveys to find out how much bullying is taking place in school and how secure do you feel in the classroom. And then the students themselves started an entire campaign in the schools to say, we’re not going to tolerate bullying, and in fact, if we see somebody bullying, we’re going to call them out on it. And that peer pressure could actually end up making as much of a difference as just about anything.

The cost of going to college

Here’s what we’ve done over the last two years. First of all, we increased the level of Pell Grants so now you can get up to $800 more in Pell Grants every year than you were able to do two years ago because of changes that we made.
We also made Pell Grants available to millions more students around the country. So we expanded eligibility so that more young people could get access to student loans and grants that would help them pay for college.

Access to programs like Head Start, child care and early childhood education

The Latino community is a young population and so there are a lot of young kids, so they need high-quality early childhood education, high-quality day care, high-quality Head Start programs, more than just about any other community. Unfortunately, actually, they are under-represented in these programs, and we need to do more to provide that kind of support. So in our new budget we’re also putting additional resources into early childhood education.
And so we're doing a lot of work in improving professional development and the quality of the programs, even as we increase the money to support subsidies for those programs.

Recruiting more Latino teachers

We’re working to figure out how to do more recruitment in historically black colleges and universities, in Hispanic-serving institutions. We need to get in there and say to young people, consider teaching as a career. And I know that that’s something that [Education Secretary] Arne Duncan has emphasized.
So we’ve got to go to where the students are, get them early, get them in the pipeline, provide them the outstanding training that they need, and make sure then they’re supported as they go through. Because part of the challenge in teaching, it’s not just enough to recruit the teacher. Once the teacher is in the classroom, they’ve got to have support systems in place, professional development in place, so that they can learn their trade.

In his State of the Union address the President put education at the heart of his agenda—improving failing schools, introducing innovation and technology into the classroom, reforming No Child Left Behind, and tackling bullying.

You can watch the President’s remarks at yesterday’s education town hall online in Spanish and in English, and read his full remarks here.

Watch: President Obama Addresses the Nation

Mary Hough — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:00:11 EDT

President Obama addressed the nation last night, updating the American people on the situation in Libya. The President praised America's men and women in uniform—describing the actions taken with international allies and partners to protect the Libyan people from the brutality of Moammar Qaddafi, the transition to NATO command and control, and America’s policy going forward.

You can read the full remarks here

Tonight at 7:30 P.M: President Obama Addresses The American People

Josh Cohen — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:15:22 EDT

Tonight starting at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, President Obama will speak to the American public about the ongoing situation in Libya. Over the several days, the United States has joined an international coalition to protect the Libyan people from government attacks and to institute a no fly zone, a mission that is limited, clear, and focused.

As the President said in his Weekly Address:

We’re succeeding in our mission. We’ve taken out Libya’s air defenses. Qaddafi’s forces are no longer advancing across Libya. In places like Benghazi, a city of some 700,000 that Qaddafi threatened to show “no mercy,” his forces have been pushed back. So make no mistake, because we acted quickly, a humanitarian catastrophe has been avoided and the lives of countless civilians—innocent men, women and children—have been saved.

As I pledged at the outset, the role of American forces has been limited. We are not putting any ground forces into Libya. Our military has provided unique capabilities at the beginning, but this is now a broad, international effort. Our allies and partners are enforcing the no fly zone over Libya and the arms embargo at sea. Key Arab partners like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have committed aircraft. And as agreed this week, responsibility for this operation is being transferred from the United States to our NATO allies and partners.

Watch tonight at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time online at Whitehouse.gov, or check your local listings for T.V. coverage in your area.

“There’s Not Much That We Can’t Do”

Mary Hough — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:44:54 EDT

Events marking the one-year anniversary of health reform continued across the country this weekend, with folks coming together to remember last year's campaign and to tell their stories of how they are being helped by the new law.

Roosevelt Lyons, an OFA regional field director in Missouri, is one of millions of Americans benefiting from the Affordable Care Act:

As a young child, I suffered from severe asthma. I was hospitalized several times, and there was a time when they were not sure if I was going to survive.
I remember one Fourth of July holiday, as my family and I watched the fire works display, my mom and dad were discussing his paycheck. I remember looking at it—it was 99 dollars. At the time I thought it was a lot of money, my dad laughed. He drove a cement truck and later I found out he kept that job, even though it did not pay well, because he was worried about finding insurance for me if he left his job.
Years later, as an adult with a child, I found myself working in a factory here in Kansas City. The job was really bad for my asthma—I had to breathe in large amounts of dust and other chemicals. I worked that job for almost two years, making myself sicker, so that my family could have health insurance.
Now that the Affordable Care Act is law, provisions make it mandatory that insurance companies cover children with pre-existing conditions, and come 2014 insurers will no longer be allowed to deny coverage—American workers will no longer have to stay locked in a job in order to insure their children.

OFA volunteers in Santa Fe, New Mexico, spoke to Pamela Coleman, regional field director, about their experiences during the campaign for health reform:

"Sometimes we don't feel as though we have any power with politicians but really, when you think about it, we can make our positions known. We just need to be organized!” Maggie, OFA volunteer

"It's up to us, you know, to make a difference. If we sit back, nothing gets done. It just gets done to us. We made the Affordable Care Act happen. If we helped the President do that, well, there's not much that we can't do!" Alice, OFA volunteer

The efforts of OFA volunteers last year helped secure the passage of the Affordable Care Act one year ago. You can find out how it’s helping you and your friends by taking the Health Reform Checkup.

Volunteer Spotlight: Ryan, OFA D.C.

Mary Hough — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:58:23 EDT

OFA's success depends on the hard work and talents of volunteers across the country—folks who come together to organize, and make a difference in their communities.

Ryan, who was in high school during the 2008 election, has been volunteering with OFA since the 2010 mid term elections:

As a politically savvy high school student in 2008, the eloquent words of President-elect Barack Obama in Chicago on Election Night illustrated a future presidency of tremendous change.
Following two years of promises kept, President Obama and Democrats faced tough races from the Republican party in the mid terms. But volunteers proved that Organizing for America and passionate young Americans can still shape change.
A political science major at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., by day and a volunteer at night, I maintained tremendous confidence that the pundits were wrong—that they were counting us out much too early. Making hundreds of calls to states like Ohio, Colorado, and Florida, I can say that the work of OFA left an impact on the electorate.
On Election Night, volunteers made many phone calls for Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) who ultimately won by a slim margin. Results like these make me believe the work done here is not minuscule or obscure. We are shaping change.
Following the mid terms, I returned to OFA as an intern. In the nation’s capital, the interaction with people directly—whether it be volunteers or voters over the phone—is remarkable. It was especially uplifting to make phone calls to Ohio during the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” So many Ohioans, young and old, expressed their support for repeal adamantly and passionately. With such support, it reminds me of our hopeful, forward thinking, ambition for change, and resiliency against the toughest of challenges.
Organizing for America represents more than an idea. It is an institution for creating actual change. It is an institution for the advocacy of democratic values. It is an institution that rolls up its sleeves and works through the grit and grime, but never gives up—never falters. It is an expression of myself and I am proud to have the chance to be a part of it all. I shape change. My generation shapes change. Organizing for America shapes change.

You can find out more about getting involved with Organizing for America in your community here.

Weekly Address: "President Obama Says the Mission in Libya is Succeeding"

Mary Hough — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 11:15:13 EDT

In his weekly address, President Obama talks about the military mission in Libya and the progress that has been made—and he praises the bravery of our men and women in uniform.

Every American can be proud of the lives we’ve saved in Libya and of the service of our men and women in uniform who once again have stood up for our interests and our ideals. And people in Libya and around the world are seeing that the United States of America stands with those who hope for a future where they can determine their own destiny.

One Year of Health Reform

Mary Hough — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:33:59 EDT

Organizing for America has been marking the one-year anniversary of health reform this week with events across the country—from letter-to-the-editor writing parties to panel discussions, from press conferences to informational booths.

The Bangor Daily News in Maine reports:

As Penobscot Community Health Care President Robert Carlson sees it, the reform effort will double the number of Americans receiving services from 20 million to 40 million over the next five years. “When people are covered, they will access primary and preventive care,” Carlson said. That’s important, he said, because providing access to such services, which include tests and screenings, can result in significant savings over the long haul.
Tuesday’s event was hosted by the Maine chapter of Organizing for America, a grass-roots project of the Democratic National Committee. “In just one year, millions of Americans have already begun to feel the positive effects of the Affordable Care Act,” Andrew Kain, Maine director of Organizing for America, noted in a news release.
With unprecedented patient protections and benefits, families no longer need to worry that their children could be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition or that they could be denied critical care after hitting a lifetime limit. Under provisions of the federal act, seniors now are eligible for free preventive care and wellness visits with their doctor and are paying less out of pocket for prescription drugs, he said.

In Pennsylvania OFA supporters came together to share stories of how health reform is already helping them and the people they know:

Dorothy J. shared what the Affordable Care Act means for her:
“When my son turned 18 he was kicked off my insurance. He couldn’t afford health insurance, and was uninsured when he got in a serious accident. He could not afford his medical bills. But now he doesn’t have to worry about being uninsured. As a result of the Affordable Care Act, he was able to go back on my health insurance plan until he turns 26. Now my worries are put at ease.”

OFA events across the country brought together new and long-standing supporters, some celebrated with cake, others heard from members of Congress who voted for health reform and folks who have been helped by the improvements the Affordable Care Act. Volunteers reached out to small business owners and young people to let them know how health reform is helping them.

To find out how health reform is helping you and those you know take the Health Reform Checkup—and then let your friends and family know.

“You Hear Stories That Put Your Own Situation Into Perspective”

Matt Marshall — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:52:48 EDT

For Elyse, there was no sound to signify what happened in the memory banks, no sonic signpost and no brief mental flash of the crash for later recall. Just complete oblivion, and then a hospital bed, and the beeping of monitors.

“The accident completely destroyed me,” she says.

Elyse Ruiz’s life and face had been shattered, a tragic end to a weekend night. She was getting a late-night ride home in an old cushy Buick, from a friend of a friend, with a car full of people. She got stuck in the middle seat, with no seatbelt. The driver was drunk, and he drove the old car headfirst into a wall. She had driven her own car out that night as the designated driver but had let one of her friends, who wanted to go home early, take her car back.

Elyse went through the windshield, and she’s lucky to be alive. She broke both cheekbones, as well as her jaw and one of her eye sockets. She had facial lacerations and a concussion to her frontal lobe. Her recovery was long and tedious, and there were complications—she had a lymph node removed when her jaw got infected. Her last surgery was in December 2009; the car accident was in the summer of 2008.

“I was lucky. Because I was in school, I had insurance through my mom. Without coverage we would have [gone] under; my ambulance bill alone was [around] $50,000. I would have had to drop out of school and been working as many jobs as I could just to pay my medicals bills,” she explains.

She had to go back to school prematurely. Her concussion wasn’t fully healed, and she struggled with a workload she normally breezed through. Before the accident and heading into her last semester at school, Elyse was a student leader, getting good grades. The severity of her concussion meant it took a while to get her reading comprehension and processing speed back to her pre-accident levels. She also reached the end of her scholarship, which only lasted four years, and had to take out loans for her final semester.

Elyse fought through all of this adversity, graduating and getting involved in the fight for health care reform as a community organizer.

Thanks to health reform, Elyse can stay on her mother’s policy until she is 26. She lives at home with her mom in St. Paul, Minnesota, and is trying to save money for graduate school.

“If it wasn’t for the Affordable Care Act, I wouldn’t have insurance right now. I wouldn’t be able to afford it.”

And for Elyse, this coverage is crucial, because she still needs expensive regular checkups with her surgeon.

Working as a retail manager right now, Elyse is looking forward to being involved in grassroots organizing again and being involved in changing the country. She has the opportunity to head to Iowa to work as an organizer.

“Along the health care trail, there wasn’t a family I met who wasn’t touched in some way by the health care issue,” she says, talking about how important it is to her to try and make a difference. “You hear stories that put your own situation into perspective, that break your heart, and you begin to think that you are lucky.”

“A Great Opportunity:” OFA Summer Organizer Program

Mary Hough — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 09:38:44 EDT

This summer hardworking, dedicated folks will have the opportunity to take part in Organizing for America’s Summer Organizer Program. Folks like Victoria Kempter, who took part in the program in the summer OF 2010.

Q. Why did you apply to the Summer Organizer Program?

A. I worked as a summer organizer between my junior and senior years of college. As a big Obama fan, it was a great opportunity to work with his grassroots organization, and to develop skills that I needed for a job my senior year.

Q. What did you do?

A. My summer project was to help organize the first-ever Organizing for America Statewide Convention in New Mexico. We ended up having about 80 volunteers from all across the state attend, along with representatives from the statewide campaigns. It was a great learning experience for understanding the process of organizing large events and it went off flawlessly.

Q. What did you learn?

A. As it turned out, the experience of organizing a large event has helped me a lot with my job this year. From logistics to recruiting attendees, my work as a summer organizer has helped me to develop successful programs at my own university. OFA is great with social media, and I learned how to use it more advantageously than before.

As a graduating senior, my work as a summer organizer has certainly improved my resume, and it often sparks interest and conversation.

Q. What would you say to encourage others to apply?

A. The summer organizing position is a great way to connect with other people in your area who are passionate about the same issues as you. It is a great way to learn more about your local, state, and federal government and to make you feel like you are part of something bigger.

If you’re interested in becoming a summer organizer like Victoria you can apply here.

Supporters Celebrate One Year of Health Reform

Mary Hough — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:52:36 EDT

Across the country OFA supporters have been coming together to celebrate the first anniversary of President Obama signing the Affordable Care Act into law.

The work that OFA volunteers did, campaigning for health reform, helped secure passage of the legislation.

In Albuquerque, New Mexico, OFA hosted a panel discussion about the benefits of health reform. Pam Coleman, OFA New Mexico state field director, spoke to supporters who came:

"I can't believe it's been a year since I sat in this office making phone calls helping voters understand how important it was for their representative to vote YES in support of health care," said Mary. "This panel was really helpful in helping me understand how the health exchange figures into the ACA," added Bill.
"I'm one of those people who was immediately helped," said Maria, "because of the closing of the donut hole for prescription drugs. I'm so happy to tell everyone I meet about how President Obama helped all of us with the Affordable Care law."

OFA Ohio held events across the state:

In Canton volunteers Barbra, Carol, Denise, and Cynthia visited the office of Congressman Jim Renacci (R-OH) to deliver the names of constituents who support the Affordable Care Act.
Over in Xenia volunteers gathered with medical care providers to share stories about the positive impact the Affordable Care Act has had on their communities, businesses, family finances, and personal health. The evening featured a call from U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and Surgeon General Vice-Admiral Regina Benjamin.

OFA supporters hosted a stall at the University of Florida with information for students on how they can benefit from health reform. Ashley Bauman, OFA Florida press secretary, reports:

Volunteers took the time to ensure [students] had a good understanding of the benefits of the Affordable Care Act and how it benefited not only young adults but also children, women, seniors, and small businesses.
“Joanne, a cancer survivor, stopped by and told her health care story. She ensured that everyone knew how proud she was of the President for keeping his promise about those with pre-existing conditions and how, by 2014, they will no longer be denied health insurance coverage.

In Norristown, Pennsylvania, volunteers came together to write letters to the editor about how health reform is helping them and their families. Kerri Axelrod, OFA Pennsylvania communications director, spoke to one of the volunteers:

Dianna M. came out to the event because she is one of the 216,666 in Pennsylvania who are currently benefiting from free preventative care and prescription drug discounts.
“The Affordable Care Act provides discount prescription drugs for me and my family members who fall into the Medicare Part D donut-hole. The Affordable Care Act gives me the peace of mind to know that I can get the care I need to prevent illnesses and when I get sick.”

You can find out how health reform is working for you and the people in your life by taking the Health Reform Checkup.

“The President came to my rescue”

Matt Marshall — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 16:19:44 EDT

Ellie Phillips had a big problem that was really starting to wear on her—mentally and financially. Her problem was the cost of adequate health care. She had health insurance, so at least she was covered should something sudden and dire happen. But she was self-employed and had a pre-existing condition causing the cost of care to spiral upward.

“It was a constant source of pain and trouble for me, and I didn’t know what I was going to do. But the President came to my rescue,” she explains.

Originally from Arkansas, Ellie ended up in the Washington, D.C., area through a placement with AmeriCorps. She loved working in the nonprofit world, helping change people's lives for the better. After her time with AmeriCorps ended, Ellie eventually started her own nonprofit, helping people find jobs and running a GED program to help people get ready for college. When the recession hit, donations dried up, and as it became increasingly difficult to raise funds she had to close the doors on her business in 2009.

Ellie believes in the American Dream, and the idea that if you pay into the system, if you work hard grinding away in your corner of the country—whatever it is that you do to further along the Great Society—the system will take care of you when you need it to. This is what previous generations fought for—the ability to have a lifeline to reach out for should you need it.

For many Americans this dream has come true. But the reality of our previous health insurance system was that many Americans fell through the cracks into desperate situations. All of a sudden the job you were working disappears, and a month's rent payment becomes your month’s medical bills—or worse. This is particularly important when you have a pre-existing condition that puts affordable, quality health care out of your day-to-day reality.

“I was paying $430 for thirty pills because I had already exceeded my $1,500 prescription limit," Ellie explained. "The staff at the pharmacy would cringe when I would come in because they knew how bad it was.” Even with health insurance, she could barely afford to get by.

When she called the insurance company to find out if something could be done to help, she got the run-around—until, finally, saving grace came in the form of a nice woman on the other end of the phone at the insurance company. The woman told Ellie what she needed to do was cancel her program and then reapply for the same program: because of health care reform, the prescription from her preexisting condition would now be covered.

“I was absolutely shocked that the federal government came to my rescue in a crisis. I haven’t voted since 2000, but I’m definitely voting in 2012,” she says with a laugh. “President Obama could have gone the easy route instead of trying to fix heath care, but the fact is that he saved me.”

The Affordable Care Act has helped Ellie and others like her get back on their feet. She is going back to school now and looking for a job, without the crushing burden of health care costs.

“I don’t understand why anyone is scared of health care reform in this country. Put yourself in my shoes. There’s a prescription that is greatly helping you, but it cost $430 a month in addition to what you are already paying for insurance. What would you do? I’m not asking for a handout, I just want something for the money I’m paying, and the changes that have happened with the ACA are helping me greatly.”

One Year of the Affordable Care Act

Mary Hough — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:01:23 EDT

To mark the first anniversary of the Affordable Care Act being signed into law, Vice President Joe Biden looks back at the work that was done to achieve reform and the benefits it has brought, and will bring, for millions of Americans across the country.

To find out how health reform is helping you, your friends, and your family, take the Health Reform Checkup.

Next to You: The Ihle Family

Josh Cohen — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:19:29 EDT

On the one-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, Vice President Biden wrote a message to supporters in celebration of this historic milestone. In this email, the Vice President highlighted Kari and Justin Ihle, and their son William:

Justin and Kari live in Brooklyn Park, right outside of Minneapolis. They're parents to three children. Their three-year-old, William, was born with a genetic disorder called tuberous sclerosis complex.

For the rest of his life, William will wrestle with tumors in his brain, his heart, his kidneys, his skin, and possibly other major organs. He must take medication to control seizures and faces the threat of kidney disease.

What Justin and Kari want for William is a future. And because of health reform, that's what he'll have.

Learn more about how health reform helps people you know – take the Health Reform Checkup.

“We saw William’s future in health care reform”

Matt Marshall — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:52:37 EDT

One year ago today, health reform was signed into law. In the weeks leading up to the anniversary, we traveled across the nation to find out how the Affordable Care Act is affecting people’s lives. We found that progress is real – and this change can best be understood case by case, as seen in the homes and heard through the mouths of real people, one story at a time.

This is one of those stories.

The murmur was faint, very slight, but she was sure it was there. The doctor making her regular rounds listened to William’s heart. He was only one day old, and she hoped she was wrong. She had enough doubt to ask for a second opinion, for another set of trained ears to listen in, to pinpoint the abnormal sound. The second doctor couldn’t hear it, neither could a third.

Still, she knew she had heard something. The doctor told Justin and Kari Ihle it was best to get their newborn son’s heartbeat checked out, but that it was probably nothing, many newborns have heart murmurs.

For the proud parents, joy had become worry, and suddenly all those midnight thoughts you keep in the dark recesses of your mind start to lap over the carefully constructed levee of positivity. “What if?” immediately becomes the dominant theme. But health scares are common, and the “It could be…” typically ends up being “It’s fine.”

At least, that is what you keep telling yourself.

Six weeks later, they sat in the doctor’s office, saying nothing because they did not have the breath for it. They were speechless as the diagnosis came out of the pediatric cardiologist’s mouth.

“Your son has four tumors in his heart,” said the doctor, as he explained William could have Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. They had never heard of TSC before, not many people have. TSC is a rare genetic disease that causes tumors to grow in many vital organs of the body, including the brain, heart and kidneys. Tests later confirmed the condition.

Driving home from the diagnosis, Kari told Justin, “You can never quit your job.” Justin had great health insurance though his work, covering the family, and this health insurance would become William’s lifeboat through constant tests, checkups, and medications.

But what if something happened? This thought would continue to echo through the young family’s minds, and even though he was doing well at work Justin was constantly haunted by the idea he wasn’t doing well enough. He manages internal communications for a company in the medical device industry, and even when he would get 20 positive comments on a project, if there was some slight slant to a conversation he perceived as negative, his thoughts would start running away from him. The economic downturn hit the family hard, as Kari, an interior designer, struggled to find projects.

But that all changed one year ago. After the passage of the Affordable Care Act, children like William who are fighting through chronic lifelong conditions can no longer be denied health insurance – and when he grows up, he won't have to worry about being denied either.

“It was such a giant relief knowing that even if the worst happened and I lost my job or had to change jobs, William will still be able to get coverage,” Justin explained.

Justin and Kari tell their story as William and their other two kids, Peyton, six, and Grace, one, circle around us, an energetic kid tornado. The Ihle house sits in a suburban neighborhood north of Minneapolis called Brooklyn Park, tucked into the deep end of a cozy cul-de-sac. In the center of their street lies a small park and a playground, and though it’s 25 degrees outside, half a dozen neighborhood kids swing and play, with giant jackets making them look like plump colorful moving marshmallows covered up against the cold. It’s late winter and snow still covers the ground in every direction, a gray sky mutes the day, and a slight wind bends the trees and chills you through your clothes when you step outside.

William seems perfect, cute in his blue sweater, not shy in the least. He is now almost four, and a rambunctious ball of constant movement. He has seizures every other day, and is on his 4th anti-seizure medication, which his parents have to give him every morning. The magic age for the Ihle’s was two years. At the age of two months William had an MRI, and they found tumors in his brain. If he started having seizures before the age of two, his brain wouldn’t have had time to develop and he might have had significant developmental issues. Every seizure-free day before the two-year mark was a gift. He made it to two and a half without seizing, which was a mixed blessing: it had started, but there was enough of a window to have the best chance possible for normal brain development.

Their house is warm and spotless, except for the basement, where toys of all shapes and sizes blanket the room. Kari and Justin are direct, calm, and honest when discussing their son’s condition. Kari and Justin are direct, calm, and honest when discussing their son’s condition. They banter back and forth, finishing each other’s sentences, each letting their partner speak but jumping in to correct—their conversation a partnership.

They both exude an unrelenting positive attitude, a sense of strength, and are very open and honest about their hopes and concerns. The tumors in William’s heart will decrease in size over time, but as he ages other problems associated with TSC could creep up. He already has a tumor in one of his kidneys, which needs to be watched closely as he progresses. And there could also be skin and sight issues as well.

Still, they are upbeat when discussing the future. The fact they are even together is a testament to the power of fate. Initially friends in college, they ended up in love after a chance meeting, in a place they both rarely went. They hadn’t seen each other in a year. Justin had saved a slip of paper with Kari’s home address on it, and when Justin brought it up, Kari refused to believe he still had it. He produced it from his wallet to her astonishment. They were engaged less than a year later.

“Things could be so much worse,” Kari says, when pressed further about their lives. “You hear all these horrible stories from other families with the same condition, I’m just glad for every day we get with William because he is a wonderful child.”

On the anniversary of health reform, stories like the Ihle’s should be kept in the front of our minds as we discuss this issue. Because it is children like William, and parents like Justin and Kari, who are affected most by this progress. William has other battles to fight, much more important ones, and he shouldn’t have to grow up fighting the insurance companies too.

“Before health care reform, William would have been basically uninsurable once he came off our insurance. We saw William’s future in health-care reform -- [it] has had an incredibly positive impact on our lives,” Justin starts, but Kari finishes.

“Before health care reform, William’s future was bleak. It’s so comforting to us that he’s going to be able to do what he wants to do, to really live in the future.“

Next To You

Mary Hough — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:12:18 EDT

Someone you know has been helped by health reform. In the year since the President signed the Affordable Care Act into law, millions of Americans have benefited from the reforms it introduced.

Today, Vice President Joe Biden wrote to supporters to share the story of one Minnesota family whose two-year-old son now has a brighter future thanks to health reform. Read the Vice President’s message below and then take the Health Reform Checkup to find out how the Affordable Care Act has helped those around you.

I want to tell you about a family in Minnesota.
Justin and Kari live in Brooklyn Park, right outside of Minneapolis. They're parents to three children. Their three-year-old, William, was born with a genetic disorder called tuberous sclerosis complex.
For the rest of his life, William will wrestle with tumors in his brain, his heart, his kidneys, his skin, and possibly other major organs. He must take medication to control seizures and faces the threat of kidney disease.
What Justin and Kari want for William is a future. And because of health reform, that's what he'll have.
Today, insurance companies are no longer able to discriminate against William because of the condition he's dealt with since birth. Now, Justin and Kari know they'll be able to get the kind of care that William needs—today and into the future.
Their story isn't unique, but it's one of many that need to be told. We all know people whose lives have been changed because of the Affordable Care Act, even if we don't realize it. So we've found a way to show exactly how reform is working for all of us—for our parents, our siblings, our kids, us.
Will you take a minute to take our Health Reform Checkup and let the people you love know how reform is working for them?
Before the Affordable Care Act, Justin and Kari weren't sure about the future. They worried that they'd never be able to find coverage for William again if Justin lost his job. They worried about the life that William would lead—whether he'd ever be able to work or support a family.
Not anymore. William's condition isn't going away, but he'll always be able to get care. The Affordable Care Act is one year old today, and it has already changed William's life—and this country—for good.
Today, there are families who feel better about the future than they did a year ago. They've found some security, some relief. And these are people we know. They're our neighbors, our colleagues, our friends, our families—the people next to us everyday.
On the one-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, I think we have a duty to discuss how reform is already working.
Watch Justin and Kari tell their story, and take a moment to learn how health reform is changing the lives of those you know.
A year ago, I stood next to the President as he signed health reform into law—and we have you to thank for making that possible
Yours,
Joe

Take the Health Reform Checkup here.

Health Reform: A Surprise Call From The President

Josh Cohen — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:49:23 EDT

While telling his health care story to the White House, Erick Moberg received a phone call from an unlikely source: President Obama.

Watch the video below as Erick takes this surprise phone call:

Erick Moberg is graduating college in the spring, and because of health reform, he will be able to keep his health coverage even after he graduates. Erick will benefit from the Affordable Care Act, like so many in his age group, who now will be able to stay on a parent’s health insurance until they turn 26.

Here’s Erick’s story:

Erick is currently a senior at Michigan State University and his dream is to attend medical school at his grandfather’s alma mater in Missouri. Erick was always interested in medicine, but he was inspired after speaking to the doctors who treated his mother when she had quadruple bypass surgery.

After he graduates this spring, Erick will be taking a year to enhance his skills and prepare his application. Under the old insurance rules, he would have been forced off his parent’s health insurance plan. But now, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Erick will be able to stay on his mother’s plan.

Boosting College Graduation Rates Across the Country

Mary Hough — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:49:03 EDT

Vice President Joe Biden today called on governors to boost college graduation rates in their states. Speaking at the first annual Building a Grad Nation Summit, the Vice President said:

Right now we’ve got an education system that works like a funnel when we need it to work like a pipeline… We have to make the same commitment to getting folks across the graduation stage that we did to getting them into the registrar’s office. The dreams and skills of our college graduates will pave the way to a bright economic future for our nation.

In his State of the Union address President Obama set a goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. Accompanying the Vice President’s remarks today, the White House released a new college completion tool kit highlighting strategies, steps, and existing federal resource streams from which governors and state legislatures can draw to help increase graduation rates in their states.

Today’s conference is part of Education Month, which has focused on improving education in America from pre-school to college, particularly improving low-performing schools, integrating innovation and technology into the class room, tackling bullying, and reforming No Child Left Behind.

“Let me introduce you to someone who it really helped”

Matt Marshall — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:47:49 EDT

A year ago this week, health reform was signed into law. In the weeks leading up to the anniversary, we traveled across the nation to find out how the Affordable Care Act is affecting people’s lives. We found that progress is real – and this change can best be understood case by case, as seen in the homes and heard through the mouths of real people, one story at a time.

This is one of those stories.

Janet Acker was waiting for her check to cash. After all the years of paying into the system, after years working as a teacher, and raising two children of her own, it had come down to this -- wracking her nerves while watching her bank account, unsure of whether or not she had a medical safety net.

Janet is a cancer survivor, had no health insurance, with another 15 months to go before she turned 65 and could apply for Medicare. But because of the Affordable Care Act, she now had a chance.

“I knew if [the insurance company] cashed my check, I would be covered. My husband and I knew that, thanks to health reform, they had to cover me. But it took them a long time to cash that check” Janet says with a laugh. She laughs big and often, and exudes a positive tone even when talking about the worst of subjects. “They tell me I put the CAN in cancer.”

When she tells her story, she talks about health reform in a patient, measured tone, one you can tell was cultivated by decades of explaining concepts to young kids. She taught 1st grade for 38 years, the bulk of that time in Washington State, eventually moving to Palm Springs when her husband’s mother took a turn for the worse. Though Janet’s cancer diagnosis was world shattering, she was able to beat the disease through radiation therapy and a positive attitude. She was covered by a group policy though work throughout her health struggle, but once she retired and COBRA ran out, she ran into problems. And this was when she came up against the wall of the former system.

“I was with the same insurance company for 41 years. I tried to get an individual policy, and they refused to cover me, they told me I was uninsurable. It was absolutely devastating. I didn’t want to bankrupt my family if I got cancer again. It was a very hard time.”

She started looking into alternative ways to get her medication; Canada and Mexico were starting to look like her only affordable options. She contemplated just going without insurance. She talked to her doctors and asked if she could wait 15 months before her next check-up; they told her “absolutely not,” she had to come in.

She was angry, frustrated that she had paid into the system during her healthy years, only to be turned down when she needed help the most. Her doctors were also angry; they had many other patients who were in similar situations and were disgusted at the insurance companies for dropping them.

But with the passage of health reform, Janet and other Americans like her are now no longer discriminated against because of their past medical history or pre-existing conditions.

“This helps out so many people. I was giving a talk to a group not too long ago, and I asked how many people were looking forward to turning 65, so they could get Medicare, and they all raised their hands! People are actually looking forward to getting older.”

Her house is a perfect retirement statement: The endless desert sun, the pictures of the grandkids, citrus trees dotting the green back lawn, monstrous lemons the size of small melons, a garden with plump tomatoes and fresh lettuce. She makes lemonade as the harsh winter desert light spills through the kitchen windows, gutting the fruit with a juicer, filling a big bowl with the tart liquid, as she talks about health reform and how opponents just need to hear the stories of people whom reform has helped -- how that is the only way to actually see the progress we’ve achieved, the change that has been realized.

She swims a couple of times a week, doing water aerobics with ladies a little older than she is. After their hour-long class they get in the hot tub and visit. One day, as they were soaking up the warming power of the bubbles and jet streams, they started talking about health care. A lot of these women had never been without health insurance and most of them are now on Medicare. During the debate one of the ladies said she had never heard of anyone whom health reform had actually helped.

Janet lets her big smile go wider as she highlights this part of the conversation. “I raised my hand, and said ‘Let me introduce you to someone who it really helped.’ And I told them my story, about getting cancer, how at first I couldn’t get coverage. And they were horrified. When I told them how this has effected me, how it’s changed my life, they agreed that maybe this is a good thing. And I said ‘No, it’s a great thing.’”

Take the Health Reform Checkup

Mary Hough — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:01:23 EDT

Did you know that health reform is helping millions of Americans like you and your loved ones to lead healthier lives? Take the Health Reform Checkup to find out how.

A year ago this week President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. In just 12 months, the benefits this historic legislation introduced are already at work, improving care for millions of Americans--your friends and your neighbors, your parents and your children.

Thanks to health reform, children with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied coverage, seniors can receive preventative treatments for free, and insurance companies must now spend at least 80 percent of premiums on proving care rather than doling out shareholder profits and executive bonuses.

And that's just the beginning. Health reform is improving the lives of those around you. Find out how the Affordable Care Act is helping by taking the Health Reform Checkup, and then let your loved ones know how reform works for them--now and in the future.

Take the Health Reform Checkup here.

“It’s because of health care reform that I’ll be able to make this happen”

Matt Marshall — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:51:34 EDT

This is one of those stories.

At Dr. Suparna Damany’s Physical Therapy clinic in Allentown, PA, the handprints on the walls are a constant reminder, both to the people who feel pain and the people who seek to cure it, that hope truly can lead to health. They’re everywhere around the practice, dozens and dozens of them, in every exam room: multi-colored murals with mini-stories scratched in marker surrounding the imprints, each about a personal quest to a pain-free life.

According to Dr. Damany:

When they’re done with therapy, we give patients a glove and whatever color of paint they want. And since they’re all over the office, the handprints serve to let people see that healing is possible. We get a lot of patients here who have not had success with their conditions before, and when they see all the success stories, it gives them a sense of hope, and something to look forward to – they want to see their print on the wall.

She talks about this artistic wall decor and her medical mission of one-on-one patient care with an undercurrent of subtle pride. But when she talks about the business side of the medical industry, and her current situation, she is much more direct. She has to be – the fiscal realities of running a small business can be daunting, especially in the medical field.

Costs are going up and reimbursements from the insurance companies are going down. Also, I feel morally obligated to provide all my employees with health insurance, and our cost there has been going up as well. So it becomes harder and harder to run the practice.

But one year after the Affordable Care act was signed into law, Dr. Damany is excited about how health reform is affecting her practice and her bottom-line. Thanks to tax credits, she has been able to hire on an additional physical therapist. The positive impact of a substantial tax credit can’t be overstated in a small-business climate where costs are going up but revenue is often going down.

As things progress, I’m looking forward to bringing on more staff, and investing in new equipment. And it’s because of health care reform that I’ll be able to make this happen.

Originally from India, Dr. Damany moved to Pennsylvania to attend Temple, and settled in Allentown because she fell in love with its small-town charm. After first working in the hospital system, she eventually started her own clinic, feeling a more intimate approach would yield better results when dealing with patients who have chronic pain conditions.

The model worked, and after starting off with one employee, she now has five full-time and three part-time physical therapists seeing about 120 patients a week, who come from all over the country to try her clinic’s creative approach. The more she opens up about her practice the more you understand why her business is successful. Everything seems to be about community, every one of her employees is a valuable member contributing to the goal of helping patients.

In small businesses across the country, the benefits of health reform are being felt – whether that means giving owners the ability to hire new workers, or provide better benefits for the workers they have. And these small businesses are the backbone of their local communities.

Dr. Damany explains:

I’m in a service profession, my job is to change the community into a healthy community. People need to understand health care reform, though it helps us on the business side, is really about increasing the health of the people.

Weekly Address: American Jobs Through Exports to Latin America

Josh Cohen — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 19:32:47 EDT

As President Obama closely monitors the crises in Japan and Libya, he discusses his trip to Latin America and his administration’s efforts to strengthen America’s relationships abroad and broaden international markets for U.S. products.

Become a Summer Organizer

Josh Cohen — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:36:03 EDT

Organizing for America is looking for its next class of summer organizers. This program trains individuals committed to change to become effective organizers in their communities and across the country. They’ll learn the strategies that have powered successful grassroots movements, like the one that helped elect President Obama.

Summer organizers will work in communities throughout the country to organize supporters street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood. They will recruit volunteers, run events, knock on doors, and work hard to support the President and Democrats across the country.

Read OFA’s FAQ about the Summer Organizer Program and then apply online today.

President Obama: Jobs at top of Latin America agenda

Josh Cohen — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:51:29 EDT

President Obama penned an op-ed in this morning’s USA Today, outlining the objectives of his upcoming five-day visit to Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador. Amid growing turmoil around the world, America plays an important role in promoting safety and stability—from democracy in the Middle East to recovery efforts in Japan. But a top priority of the President’s is spurring economic productivity and creating jobs right here at home.

Last month, the U.S. economy added 222,000 private-sector jobs and the unemployment rate dropped to a two-year low, 8.9 percent. President Obama is focused on continuing our economic progress and helping America become more competitive across the globe. His trip to Latin America is part of that effort.

This diplomatic visit aims to strengthen the United States’ relationship with a major consumer of our national exports. The President wrote:

Every $1 billion we export supports more than 5,000 jobs here at home. That's why last year, I set a goal for this country: to double our exports of goods and services by 2014. And we are on track to meet this goal: exports were up 17% in 2010.

The impressive growth that we've seen in Latin America in recent years is good for the people of the hemisphere, and it's good for us. Thanks in part to our trade agreements across the region, we now export three times as much to Latin America as we do to China, and our exports to the region — which are growing faster than our exports to the rest of the world — will soon support more than 2 million jobs here in the United States.

The President closed by stating that the United States and Latin America are partners with shared goals:

Our neighbors in the Americas are bound to us by shared history, values and interests. What I will convey this week is that we are partners in progress. Strengthening these partnerships will advance the common prosperity and common security of all our people, creating new jobs and new growth across the hemisphere, and helping our economy remain an engine of strength and opportunity for all our people.

You can read the President’s full article here.

President Obama: "We Will Stand with the People of Japan"

Josh Cohen — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:20:05 EDT

Yesterday, President Obama held a press conference to address the situation happening in Japan. Following a visit to the Japanese Embassy where he signed a message in a condolence book for victims of the earthquake, the President reaffirmed America’s support for the people of Japan and their recovery efforts, as well as the importance of protecting the safety of Americans abroad who may be affected. He also reassured Americans that our West Coast is not at risk of nuclear exposure from Japanese reactors.

Read the President’s full remarks here.

“A Turning Point in My Life”: OFA Summer Organizer Program

Mary Hough — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:35:28 EDT

What are you doing this summer? Organizing for America is recruiting talented folks who want to make a difference in their community to take part in our Summer Organizer Program.

Folks like Lauren Coffee, who is now a regional field director (RFD) in Dallas, Texas.

Q. Why did you apply to be a summer organizer?
A. Like many other people, upon graduation from college I was unable to find a job in my chosen career field, so I took what I could find with the intention of continuing to look for something that would be fulfilling. Opportunity came to me through a link on Facebook, of all things. I saw that Organizing for America was looking for summer organizers, and remembering how inspired I felt during the President’s 2008 campaign, I took a chance and applied.

Q. What did you do as a summer organizer?
A. Over the next few months I learned to recruit volunteers, held trainings and informational sessions, and helped lead the efforts to reform health care.

The experience I gained as a summer organizer--learning messaging techniques, being trained on all the different ways we recruit volunteers, and most of all being able to observe my former RFD and ask questions--was invaluable to the work I do now.

Q. What do you do now?
A. I now work for Organizing for America in Dallas, Texas, as an RFD. It’s my responsibility to recruit new volunteer leadership in the community, make sure our volunteers are trained and informed on the President’s initiatives, and hold events in the community that educate and reactivate the President’s supporters.

Q. Would you recommend the program to others?
A. I can honestly look back at the decision to fill out the summer organizer application as a turning point in my life. The experience didn’t just teach me the skills I needed to become an RFD—it taught me skills that will benefit me in all times of life, and I gained friendships and mentors that I treasure. I would strongly recommend that anyone who has the chance take this opportunity and run with it.

Join folks like Lauren this summer and apply to join the Summer Organizer Program – it may just change your life.

EPA Administrator Takes Your Questions – Watch Live at 10:55 a.m. ET

Josh Cohen — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:30:57 EDT

Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator (EPA) Lisa Jackson will convene a live online discussion about the Clean Air Act and the EPA’s latest efforts to reduce dangerous air pollution. Administrator Jackson will be joined by young people who care deeply about this issue, as well as moderator Kalpen Modi of the Office of Public Engagement.

You can submit your questions ahead of time on Facebook and watch live at whitehouse.gov/live at 10:55 a.m. ET today.

President Obama Meets with Standout Science and Math Students

Josh Cohen — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:45:19 EDT

Yesterday, President Obama met with 40 high school students who are finalists for the Intel Science Talent Search. This event was an opportunity to recognize some of the brightest science and math students across the country—students who will become the next generation’s scientists, engineers, and technological leaders. These talented young men and women are examples of how investments in education today will help America win the future.

President Obama’s budget plan includes crucial investments in America’s education system that will prepare the next generation for the challenges ahead—it aims to train 100,000 new science, technology, engineering, and math teachers.

Phil Larson writes on the White House blog:

The Intel Science Talent Search is one of the most highly-regarded science research competitions in the country. Many past Science Talent Search participants have gone on to distinguished careers, including seven Nobel laureates, four National Medal of Science winners, 11 MacArthur Foundation Fellows, and two Fields Medalists (as well as one Academy Award winner—Natalie Portman!).

This year’s finalists include 16 girls and 24 boys who represent 39 schools in 15 states and were selected from over 1,700 applications tied to cuttingedge research. President Obama applauds the work of these young innovators and of pioneering minds throughout the Nation.

Learn about President Obama’s recent efforts to reform the education policy No Child Left Behind.

“An Amazing Opportunity”: OFA Summer Organizer Program

Mary Hough — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 11:25:03 EDT

Organizing for America is recruiting hard-working, talented folks to take part in this year’s Summer Organizer Program.

Michael Campbell took part in the Summer Organizer Program in California last summer--he is currently in college and hopes to work in politics after he graduates.

Q. What did you do as a summer organizer?,
A. My role was in field operations--organizing volunteers out in the San Diego community and preparing for phone-banking events across the county. I spent a lot of time on the phone recruiting volunteers, as well as time at the computer and supporting the OFA California staff with projects that came up along the way.

Q. What did you learn as a summer organizer?
A. I have a much better perspective on what it takes to be involved in a campaign as well as the dedication necessary to make an impact in your community. The time I spent as a summer organizer will undoubtedly be useful as I pursue work on a political campaign or on Capitol Hill.

Q. Would you recommend the program to others?
A. It is an amazing opportunity, for people dedicated to President Obama’s agenda and the positive difference his administration is making for Americans to learn the necessary principles behind successful political organizing. You gain an unprecedented level of experience in event organizing and political campaigning and have the opportunity to take ownership of your part of larger national campaigns.

If you want to make a difference in your community, and have what it takes to be a summer organizer like Michael, apply online here to join the program in 2011.

The Consequences Of Republican Cuts In Your State

Josh Cohen — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 10:05:05 EDT

In an attempt to appease the extreme wing of their base, Republicans have proposed a spending bill that makes substantial cuts to America’s most cherished and effective programs. From early-childhood education to local law enforcement, Republicans’ plan puts ideology above sound policy and risks the livelihood and well-being of millions of Americans.

President Obama has proposed a budget plan that helps government live within its means, cuts $1 trillion from the deficit, and invests in industries that generate economic growth: education, innovation, and infrastructure. It’s a responsible plan to help our country win the future.

The Republican plan would eliminate nearly 1 million jobs and impede government’s ability to function.

Learn about the damage the Republican plan will do in your state by checking out barackobama.com/consequences.

President Obama: We must seek agreement on gun reforms

Josh Cohen — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:20:24 EDT

Yesterday, President Obama penned an op-ed in the Arizona Daily Star calling for a civil national debate on reforming our nation’s guns laws. America came together to mourn those killed and injured in January’s tragedy in Tucson, and we must come together again to reform our gun laws. Most gun owners act responsibly and follow proper safety guidelines, but we need to do more as a country to keep guns away from those we know to be dangerous.

The President notes that, in the case of the Tucson shooting, there were plenty of signs prior to the rampage that should have raised a red flag:

A man our Army rejected as unfit for service; a man one of our colleges deemed too unstable for studies; a man apparently bent on violence, was able to walk into a store and buy a gun.

He used it to murder six people and wound 13 others. And if not for the heroism of bystanders and a brilliant surgical team, it would have been far worse.

And the violence hasn’t stopped since:

But since that day, we have lost perhaps another 2,000 members of our American family to gun violence. Thousands more have been wounded. We lose the same number of young people to guns every day and a half as we did at Columbine, and every four days as we did at Virginia Tech.

Every single day, America is robbed of more futures. It has awful consequences for our society. And as a society, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to put a stop to it.

President Obama continues by reaffirming the rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment, an individual liberty and tradition upheld responsibly by millions of people:

The fact is, almost all gun owners in America are highly responsible. They're our friends and neighbors. They buy their guns legally and use them safely, whether for hunting or target shooting, collection or protection. And that's something that gun-safety advocates need to accept. Likewise, advocates for gun owners should accept the awful reality that gun violence affects Americans everywhere, whether on the streets of Chicago or at a supermarket in Tucson.

Despite the polarizing history of America’s debate on gun control, the President is confident that commonsense and reasonable minds can come together to make our country safer. Responsible, law-abiding gun owners are not well served by those “irresponsible, law-breaking few.”

The focus of the gun control should be finding effective steps to prevent those unsound individuals from getting a gun in the first place:

• First, we should begin by enforcing laws that are already on the books. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System is the filter that's supposed to stop the wrong people from getting their hands on a gun. Bipartisan legislation four years ago was supposed to strengthen this system, but it hasn't been properly implemented. It relies on data supplied by states - but that data is often incomplete and inadequate. We must do better.

• Second, we should in fact reward the states that provide the best data - and therefore do the most to protect our citizens.

• Third, we should make the system faster and nimbler. We should provide an instant, accurate, comprehensive and consistent system for background checks to sellers who want to do the right thing, and make sure that criminals can't escape it.

President Obama concludes with a plea to gun-control advocates and those averse to engage in the debate:

We owe the victims of the tragedy in Tucson and the countless unheralded tragedies each year nothing less than our best efforts - to seek consensus, to prevent future bloodshed, to forge a nation worthy of our children's futures.

Reforming No Child Left Behind

Mary Hough — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:12:18 EDT

President Obama called on Congress today to send him a bill to reform education before the start of the next school year.

Speaking at a middle school in Arlington, Virginia, the President set out his ambitions for reforming No Child Left Behind—the Bush-era education policy—and for ensuring that every child graduates high school with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed at college and in the 21st century workplace.

It’s the right thing to do for our economy, because the best jobs program out there is a good education. The best economic policy is one that produces more college graduates. And that’s why, for the sake of our children and our economy and America’s future, we’re going to have to do a better job educating every single one of our sons and daughters—all of them.

No Child Left Behind was introduced in 2001, with bipartisan support, to improve educational quality across the country. But the results were mixed. In reality 15 states actually lowered their educational standards to meet the policy's goals. Today, the President laid out his plan to reform the educational law:

The goals of No Child Left Behind were the right goals: Making a promise to educate every child with an excellent teacher—that’s the right thing to do, that’s the right goal. Higher standards are right. Accountability is right. Shining a light on the achievement gap between students of different races and backgrounds, and those with and without disabilities, that’s the right thing to do.
But what hasn’t worked is denying teachers, schools, and states what they need to meet these goals. That’s why we need to fix No Child Left Behind.
[W]e need a better way of figuring out which schools are deeply in trouble, which schools aren’t, and how we get not only the schools that are in really bad shape back on track, how do we help provide the tools to schools that want to get even better to get better.
We need to make sure some of our best teachers are teaching in some of our worst schools. We need to reward schools that are doing the difficult work of turning themselves around. We’re going to have to take a series of steps across a broad range of measures to not only target our most troubled schools, but also raise expectations for all our schools.

Key to achieving this success will be ensuring that there is a great teacher in every classroom and a great principal in every school:

What we need to do is a better job preparing and supporting our teachers, measuring their success in the classroom, holding them accountable. We’re going to have to stop making excuses for the occasional bad teacher. We’re going to have to start paying good ones like the professionals that they are. If we truly believe that teaching is one of the most valued professions in society—and I can’t think of a more important profession—then we’ve got to start valuing our great teachers.

The President is committed to working with Democrats and Republicans in Congress to achieve these reforms:

In the 21st century, it’s not enough to leave no child behind. We need to help every child get ahead. We need to get every child on a path to academic excellence.

You can read the rest of President Obama’s speech in full here.

Watch: President Obama on Education—Today at 10:40 a.m. ET

Mary Hough — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 09:50:23 EDT

President Obama will deliver a speech on education reform during a visit to a middle school in Arlington, Virginia, this morning. You can watch live online here.

The President will use the speech to outline his priorities for reforming No Child Left Behind—the Bush era education policy—before the start of the next school year.

Earlier this month, the President set out his plans for supporting the lowest performing schools, for using technology and promoting innovation in the classroom and for tackling bullying in our schools.

This morning’s speech will be shown live online beginning at 10:40 a.m.

Weekly Address: Women's History Month & Fair Pay

Josh Cohen — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 19:03:11 EDT

President Obama praises former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt as a pioneer for women’s rights and opportunity, commends the progress already made to create greater equality in our country, and reaffirms his support for the Paycheck Fairness Act.

President Obama’s Press Conference: Causes and the Long-Term Solutions to Rising Gas Prices

Josh Cohen — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:27:11 EST

Earlier today, President Obama held a press conference to address several developing situations around the world, and here at home. He discussed a range of issues, including the tragedy in Japan, the escalating situation in the Middle East, America’s ongoing budget debate, and volatile gas prices.

The President devoted a lot of attention to that last issue as the rising cost of fuel is on the minds of families across the country.

For decades, energy costs in the United States have spiraled upward due to events in oil-rich countries with unstable governments and the unpredictable shifts in the global economy, and those added costs have become a greater burden to families struggling to make ends meet. Today, the President reminded us that this phenomenon is nothing new and that claims that the administration is choking off domestic oil production are politically motivated and patently false:

Last year, American oil production reached its highest level since 2003. Let me repeat that. Our oil production reached its highest level in seven years. Oil production from federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico reached an all-time high. For the first time in more than a decade, imports accounted for less than half of what we consumed.

So any notion that my administration has shut down oil production might make for a good political sound bite, but it doesn’t match up with reality. We are encouraging offshore exploration and production. We’re just doing it responsibly. I don’t think anybody has forgotten that we’re only a few months removed from the worst oil spill in our history. So what we’ve done is to put in place common-sense standards like proving that companies can actually contain an underwater spill. And oil companies are stepping up -- we’ve approved more than 35 new offshore drilling permits that meet these new safety and environmental standards.

The President also affirmed that America’s economy is prepared to manage fluctuations in oil prices. He is working with other countries increasing oil production to avoid a global shortage and Attorney General Eric Holder to prevent price gouging or manipulation.

But the only sustainable long-term solution is to transition our country away from oil:

We can’t place our long-term bets on a finite resource that we only control 2 percent of -– especially a resource that’s vulnerable to hurricanes, war, and political turmoil.

For that reason, the Obama administration has made historic investments in clean-energy technology, moving America closer toward energy independence:

[L]ast year we established a groundbreaking national fuel efficiency standard for cars and trucks. It’s going to save consumers money while conserving about 1.8 billion barrels of oil. And we’re working with automakers, autoworkers, and states to ensure that the high-quality, fuel-efficient cars and trucks of tomorrow continue to be built right here in the United States of America.

To satisfy our broader energy needs, we’re working to diversify our entire portfolio with historic investments in clean energy. Right now, all across America, our farmers are producing homegrown fuels, our scientists are looking for the next breakthroughs, and our workers are back in once shuttered factories, manufacturing wind turbines and solar panels and advanced batteries that will help our cars get hundreds of miles to the gallon. These are jobs that didn’t exist two years ago, and we want to create millions more of these jobs.

You can read the White House fact sheet to learn more about the administration’s energy plan for the country.

Anti-Bullying Conference at the White House

Mary Hough — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:50:44 EST

In a packed East Room, the President and First Lady hosted the first-ever White House anti-bullying conference yesterday. Speaking in their duel roles as first couple and parents of two young children, they spoke to many of the issues that families across the country face as they raise their kids.

Addressing the audience of students, parents, teachers, and policy experts, the First Lady said:

As parents, this issue really hits home for us. As parents, it breaks our hearts to think that any child feels afraid every day in the classroom, or on the playground, or even online. It breaks our hearts to think about any parent losing a child to bullying, or just wondering whether their kids will be safe when they leave for school in the morning.
So as parents, we know we need to make a real effort to be engaged in our children’s lives, to listen to them and be there for them when they need us. We need to get involved in their schools and in their activities so that we know what they’re up to, both in and out of the classroom. And when something is wrong, we need to speak up, and we need to take action.

The President laid out his ambition to:

[D]ispel the myth that bullying is just a harmless rite of passage or an inevitable part of growing up. It’s not. Bullying can have destructive consequences for our young people. And it’s not something we have to accept. As parents and students, as teachers and members of the community, we can take steps—all of us—to help prevent bullying and create a climate in our schools in which all of our children can feel safe; a climate in which they all can feel like they belong.

Bullying isn’t a new issue. The President recognized the courage of the families of kids “brimming with promise” who ultimately took their own lives after enduring “harassment and ridicule day after day at school.” Around the country, students are coming together to tackle the impact of bullying in their communities. The President told the story of Sarah, Emily and Olivia from California:

Sarah and Emily, they read a story about a girl named Olivia in a nearby town—this is a girl they didn’t know—who had faced a lot of cruel taunting in school and online because she had had an epileptic seizure in class. So they decided to write Olivia a letter, and asked their friends to do the same.
They figured they’d send Olivia about 50 letters. But in the months that followed, thousands and thousands of letters poured in from every corner of the country—it really tapped into something. A lot of the letters were from young people, and they wanted to wish Olivia well, and let her know that somebody out there was talking—was thinking about her, and let her know that she wasn’t alone. And because those children treated Olivia with that small measure of kindness, it helped Olivia see that there was light at the end of the tunnel.

Brandon Greene, from Rhode Island, had an idea that inspired his school:

Brandon is 14 years old. Back in 6th grade, when he was just a kid, he did a class project on bullying. Now, two years later, it’s a school-wide organization with 80 members. They do monthly surveys in their school to track bullying rates. And what they realized is that stopping bullying isn’t just about preventing bad behavior—it’s also about working together and creating a positive atmosphere. So Brandon and his fellow committee members are now also doing activities like coat drives and community service at their school. And it’s making a real difference.

The over-riding message from yesterday’s conference was that everyone has a role to play in helping children respond to bullying and not become bullies themselves: parents who are involved in their children’s lives, online and offline; teachers who don’t turn a blind eye to bullying in their classroom; and children who speak out when they or their classmates are bullied.

There are also steps that the government can take to support parents, teachers, and school administrators—and you can find out more about what the President and First Lady are doing to tackle bullying at StopBullying.gov.

New Online Resource: The Consequences of Republicans’ Cuts

Josh Cohen — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:24:40 EST

Democrats and Republicans must come together in the weeks ahead, setting aside partisanship to reach an agreement to fund the government for the rest of 2011. President Obama has been clear that he is eager to find common ground with Republicans that eliminates wasteful spending and fuels economic growth. But the President cannot support the Republicans’ current plan, which is a partisan effort to bulldoze crucial programs – one that would cripple our economy.

President Obama has put forth a plan to out-educate, out-innovate, and out-build the rest of the world. It’s a plan that invests in programs that will accelerate economic growth, but it also takes key steps to getting our fiscal house in order by reducing the deficit by $1 trillion and eliminating wasteful spending.

But the Republican plan does nothing to address our country’s long-term deficit, it would gut critical programs that drive growth, and it would cost America nearly 1 million jobs.

And no state is immune. The Republican plan would cut roughly 75,000 jobs in California, 9,109 students from Head Start in Ohio, $650 per student who receives Pell Grant scholarships in North Carolina, 9,000 community health center jobs in Illinois, and more.

Learn more about Republicans’ plan and the affect those cuts will have on your state: barackobama.com/consequences.

President Obama On The Earthquake In Japan And The Tsunami Warning Throughout The Pacific

Josh Cohen — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:02:15 EST

President Obama released the following statement about the earthquake and tsunamis in Japan, and offered American assistance to help overcome this tragedy:

Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to the people of Japan, particularly those who have lost loved ones in the earthquake and tsunamis. The United States stands ready to help the Japanese people in this time of great trial. The friendship and alliance between our two nations is unshakeable, and only strengthens our resolve to stand with the people of Japan as they overcome this tragedy. We will continue to closely monitor tsunamis around Japan and the Pacific going forward and we are asking all our citizens in the affected region to listen to their state and local officials as I have instructed FEMA to be ready to assist Hawaii and the rest of the U.S. states and territories that could be affected.

OFA Summer Organizer Program: “It Changed My Life”

Mary Hough — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:00:37 EST

Anand Singh, a regional field director in Denver, Colorado, began working for Organizing for America as a summer organizer in 2009.

Q. There was a lot going on in the summer of 2009—we were in the middle of the fight over health reform—what did that mean for you?

A. We immediately started building public support and awareness for health insurance reform, and worked on collecting stories from hundreds of Colorado residents about their own experiences. I think that was the most difficult yet inspiring part of the program, listening and sympathizing with those who were unable to be insured or could not afford their insurance.

At some point in the campaign I realized everyone has or knows someone who has been directly affected by the health insurance industry—that realization made me work even harder to build support to make health insurance reform real.

Throughout the summer, we canvassed public events such as farmers markets and summer festivals. We coordinated phone banks to build support, as well as push constituent outreach during critical House and Senate votes. The most important work during this time was building and strengthening relationships with my volunteers and building my volunteer teams.

Q. What did you learn from being a summer organizer?

A. The Summer Organizer Program improved my communication skills, strengthened my support for social and legislative reform, and opened my eyes to the legislative process.

The program gave me the opportunity to build relationships with a diverse group of people. My volunteers and I work together because of our shared values and belief that our work makes the difference in holding our congressional members accountable for American progress.

Q. Why did you apply to the program?

A. I got the application email at a point in my life where I was in a dead-end job, struggling to find some career direction, and was paying more attention to politics because of Barack Obama. I felt I needed to help in a tangible way rather than simply blogging or listening to Olberman and Maddow. The Summer Organizer Program was a great outlet for my frustration with the system and my hope for a better America.

Q. Would you recommend the program to others?

A. It empowers those who participate within the program to reach out to those who want to be more organized in their support for the President. It changed my life and I am thankful that I took this opportunity wholeheartedly.

OFA is currently recruiting hardworking, talented folks to this year’s Summer Organizer Program. You can find out more about the program and how to apply here.

Organizing beyond his years

Jeff Gabriel — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:10:00 EST

With just about everything Nick Seminerio does, people around him say he’s acting “beyond his years.” Keeping up with school work and practicing five days a week with the tennis team at Sir Francis Drake High School are side projects for this precocious 15-year-old. When many of his peers can be found immersed in their Play Station III or hitting repeat on their iPod to listen to the new Justin Bieber single, this high school freshman is hosting a phone bank or small business canvass, all to support President Obama’s Agenda.

It doesn’t take long to figure out that Nick is a community organizer beyond his years. After volunteering in the 2008 Presidential Election, he’s been a Neighborhood Team Leader in Marin County for more than six months, and he has just become OFA California’s youngest Spring Intern.

Nick first became active when he attended a Marin County house meeting with his mother, Jann, in the spring of 2008. Nick heard then-Senator Obama speak and told himself he wanted to see Obama in the White House. After watching his mom use the online call tool to talk with voters across the country, he told her, “I can do that.” And he started making calls.

Whether he was making a call to North Carolina or knocking on a door in Carson City, it was clear that being a 12-year-old organizer made an impact. Voters immediately took a liking to Nick’s passion, and many told him they were really inspired because he was the one who reached out to them.

After the election was over Nick wanted to help advance the President’s agenda. “I didn’t want to help elect him and stop,” he said.

Between school, sports, his internship and leadership position with OFA-CA, and managing his own local gardening business during the growing season, and umpiring for the West Marin Little League this spring, Nick has little time to spare. But his ability to balance all of his work is a lesson for any stressed out adult. His mother admits, “I’m trying, frankly, to keep up with him.”

All of Nick’s good work doesn’t go unnoticed. In middle school Nick was voted “Most Likely to Become President,” and he was recently was recognized as the “Marin County Volunteer of the Year” by the Marin County Democratic Party (below).

But Nick doesn’t let the recognition go to his head, and like any good organizer, he’s always recruiting. He’ll close out a busy school day by recruiting his teachers to a phone bank. On the way out of class he’ll make the pitch: “Come protect the progress at my phone bank. It’s just minutes away.”

We all hope OFA California will have Nick’s leadership beyond his years for many years to come.

Want to find an event with Nick or near you? Click here.

Tomorrow: White House Hosts Anti-Bullying Conference

Mary Hough — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:16:03 EST

As part of Education Month, the President and the First Lady are hosting an anti-bullying conference at the White House tomorrow. The events will be live-streamed starting at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Throughout the day there will be opportunities to engage with experts and advisers online, including a special Facebook live chat at 12 noon ET. You can RSVP for the chat here.

Bullying is an issue that affects every young person—President Obama and Michelle are committed to working with parents, teachers, students, and community leaders to tackle it. You can find out more about the issue at StopBullying.gov.

"Every Child Can Succeed"

Mary Hough — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:12:58 EST

On a visit to TechBoston in Boston, Massachusetts, yesterday, President Obama called on everyone--parents, teachers, students, government, businesses and philanthropists—to get involved with improving educational outcomes across the country:

There's no better economic policy than one that produces more graduates with the skills they need to succeed—to start their own businesses, to create their own Microsoft, to create new industries. And that's why reforming education is the responsibility of every single American—every parent, every teacher, every business leader, every public official, and yes, every student.

TechBoston was founded in 2002 with the support of Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. It is a pilot school within the Boston school system, giving it greater control over staffing, curriculum, and the school day.

The school uses technology in all of its academic courses, and every student is issued a laptop. The curriculum has rigorous graduation requirements, including four years of science, math, and technology—classes in web development, digital art, and media arts—and community service hours.

The graduation rate from TechBoston is 82 percent (compared to an average graduation rate of 63 percent for all of Boston public schools) and more than 94 percent of TechBoston graduates are attending 2 and 4 year colleges and universities. Of these students, a majority are the first in their families to attend college.

Addressing staff and students yesterday, President Obama praised the success of the TechBoston, adding:

We can't forget that every year, schools like TechBoston have to hold a lottery, because there just aren¹t enough spaces for all the students who want to go here. The reason they want to go here is because they know that if they go to some of the other schools in the area, they won't do as well. They know that they might drop out. They might not get the same reinforcement that they need. There might not be that same culture of excellence and performance. That means they may not go to college, and they know they may not succeed.
All of that shouldn't depend on a lottery. That can't be the system of education we settle for in America. No child's chance in life should be determined by the luck of a lottery. Not in this country. This is a place where everyone gets the chance to succeed, where everybody should have a chance to make it. The motto of this school is, "We rise and fall together". Well, that is true for America as well. That's true for America as well.
If we want to prosper in the 21st century, and if we want to keep the American Dream alive in our time, then we're going to rise together. We've all got to come together. We've got to give our children the same world-class education that you are getting right here at TechBoston. And as long as I am President, that's what I'm going to be fighting for right alongside you.

Education Month continues tomorrow when the President and the First Lady are host an anti-bullying conference at the White House you can find out more here.

President Obama on the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day

Josh Cohen — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:11:49 EST

Today marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, an annual celebration of the immense progress made by women throughout the world during the past century. It’s a celebration of women’s social, political, and economic gains – but, it’s also a reminder that the fight continues to achieve greater gender equality, opportunity, and empowerment.

Here is President Obama’s statement recognizing International Women’s Day:

On this 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day, we celebrate the extraordinary gains made by women over the past century—and the women pioneers who made them possible—and we reaffirm our unwavering support for the rights, security, dignity and opportunity of all women around the world. Today reminds us that across countries and cultures, people everywhere, women and men, share rights and aspirations that are universal, among them the freedom to chart their own destiny, to raise their children free from violence and to live in societies that value their voice and respect their will.

History shows that when women and girls have access to opportunity, societies are more just, economies are more likely to prosper and governments are more likely to serve the needs of all their people. That is why my administration has stood up for gender equality and women’s empowerment around the world and demanded an end to sexual and gender-based violence. It’s why we’re developing a plan to promote women’s meaningful participation in conflict prevention and resolution in war torn societies. And it’s why we are working to advance these goals and our national interests by strengthening the role of women in every aspect of our foreign policy. In the United States and around the world, we will not rest until our mothers, sisters and daughters assume their rightful place as full and equal members of a secure, prosperous and just world.

A Real Reason for Oscar to be Grouchy

Josh Cohen — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:34:33 EST

For more than 30 years, children across the country have grown up with Elmo, Big Bird, Bert, Ernie, and their friends. These characters have helped more than 75 million children learn critical cognitive and social skills that prepare them for schooling and the future. Sadly, this wildly effective program that hosts these Muppets is on the Republican chopping block.

Congress has until March 18th to act or the federal government will shut down. Republicans are using this short timetable to pressure Democrats into budget cuts that will derail America’s economic recovery and undercut some of our most valued assets – including education, generally, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, specifically.

President Obama has been clear that any budget must include smart investments and reduce the federal deficit. And there is no smarter investment we can make than preparing the next generation. From the cradle through college, America should offer students the best education the world has to offer.

The Republican budget would slash public education. It would cut billions aimed at improving education for low-income children, harming 2,400 schools that serve 1 million disadvantaged children. Roughly 9,000 teachers and aides would lose their jobs.

It would make massive cuts to Head Start, a program that provides health and education services to low-income children and families. Most children enrolled in the program are younger than four years old, which studies show is a crucial period of development for children. The Republican plan would drop 218,000 children from Head Start, and 55,000 teachers, teacher assistants, and other staff would be laid off as well.

And then there are the cuts to PBS.

Sesame Street, in particular, has been a fixture in American households for decades. Its educational model captivates children and teaches them to read and count, increases self-esteem and competency, and instills critical-thinking skills so important to a child’s early development.

Investments like PBS and Sesame Street may not yield immediate dividends – but they go a long way toward educating and preparing children for preschool, elementary and high school, college, and the workforce. It’s an investment that helps increase America’s competitiveness in the long run.

If PBS goes under, maybe Cookie Monster could get a job with the Keebler Elves. But Oscar might be out of luck. Grouchiness won’t get him far in a 21st century economy.

Watch: President Obama at 3:15 p.m. ET

Mary Hough — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 13:00:10 EST

President Obama is speaking about the importance of investing in education at 3:15 p.m. ET this afternoon—you can watch live online here.

Last Friday, the President visited Miami Central Senior High School, setting out his ambitions for lifting up America’s low-performing schools. Today he will talk about the importance of encouraging innovative education strategies that will give America’s students the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the 21st century.

The President will be speaking from the TechBoston Academy on Boston, Massachusetts, and will be joined by Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Watch the President’s remarks live online at 3:15 p.m. ET today.

Stand Up for Women’s Health

Mary Hough — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 19:28:48 EST

President Obama is calling on Republicans to come to the table to agree on a reasonable and responsible budget, one which balances the need to reduce spending without hurting our economic recovery. Instead, congressional Republicans are using this as an opportunity to bring social issues, such as a woman’s right to choose, into the debate simply to appeal to their right-wing base.

Under the current Republican proposal, funding for Planned Parenthood would be withdrawn. Planned Parenthood receives federal funding under Title X to provide a range of health services to women, including contraceptives, HIV tests, cancer screenings, and reproductive health care. Although Planned Parenthood does perform abortions, not one dime of this critical funding goes toward doing so.

For women with a low income, and women without adequate health insurance, Planned Parenthood provides essential health services—and withdrawing funding for these services will leave many women unable to access the care they need.

In addition, the Republican budget proposal would reinstate the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits non-governmental organizations that receive federal funding from promoting abortion as a method of family planning. Republicans would also deny funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which works with governments around the world to make sound policy decisions, based on population data, to ensure all their citizens can enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity.

Join with President Obama in calling on Republicans to come to the table ready to find a solution that will cut programs we can no longer afford, that does not jeopardize our economic recovery and that does not hinder the ability of women to access the essential health care they need. Add your name here.

"Nearly 1 Million Jobs Lost Across the Country?"

Mary Hough — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:00:47 EST

Today Mitch Stewart, OFA director, wrote to supporters urging them to stand with President Obama. The President is calling on Republicans to come to the table to pass a responsible budget, one that does not put our economic recovery at risk.

Over the next 11 days, the President will ask Republicans to make a choice:
Set aside party politics—or risk nearly 1 million American jobs.
Because if a budget agreement isn't reached by next Friday, the government will shut down—and the President has made clear that the current plan as proposed by congressional Republicans is not acceptable.
The final budget cannot be dictated solely by one party or a narrow set of interests—it will affect every American.
That's why true leadership means making tough choices and putting people before party or ideology.
And that's the kind of leadership we need over the next 11 days.
The President is calling on both sides to come together, but it's up to us to show Republicans in Congress that we have his back. As negotiations heat up, we all need to speak out to make sure they get the message.
Stand with the President by signing your name today—and OFA volunteers will deliver your signatures to House Republicans and make sure your voice is not ignored.
Congressional Republicans have less than two weeks to come to the table and help craft a responsible funding plan that won't derail economic growth.
President Obama has laid out a plan that reduces the deficit by a trillion dollars. He's committed to finding common ground to cut wasteful spending, but he won't go along with a plan that eliminates nearly a million jobs, guts investments in education and innovation, and ends protections that keep our food safe and air and water clean.
We simply cannot afford any proposal that weakens our country or sets us back.
The Republican budget:
Prevents the government from implementing health reform, rolling back critical patient protections and cost savings, and returning control of your health care to insurance companies;
Slashes funding for preventive health services that millions of American women depend on through Planned Parenthood—and eliminates thousands of community health center jobs across the country;
Guts investments in education and infrastructure that will grow the economy and create jobs;
Cuts national homeland security investments by millions, hindering local law enforcement's ability to keep our families safe; and
Drops hundreds of thousands of pre-kindergarten children from Head Start, an early-education program proven to help students thrive later on.
And it could mean nearly 1 million American jobs lost—all without making a dent in the deficit.
With a shutdown looming, we're approaching a critical moment that could quickly become a crisis.
Organizing for America will make sure Americans know that millions of people—from every district in this country—will be affected by these cuts.
And we'll show lawmakers that we're paying attention, we're organizing, and we're not going to stop. That we refuse to accept partisan games that could cost hundreds of thousands of jobs—or a government shutdown that puts our economy at risk.
Please add your name in support of the President today.
Thanks,
Mitch
Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

You can add your name to stand with the President here.

"Not Willing to Give Up on Any Child in America"

Mary Hough — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 13:13:53 EST

Visiting Miami Central Senior High School yesterday, President Obama reaffirmed his commitment that by 2020, “America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.”

Miami Central used to be a low-achieving school, but under the leadership of a new principal and with support from teachers, unions, students, and parents, the school has begun to turn around. Addressing students yesterday the President said:

I decided to come here to Miami Central to kick off Education Month because you’re doing what I challenged states to do shortly after I took office, and that’s turning America’s lowest-performing schools around. This is something that hasn’t received as much attention as it should. But it could hardly be more important to our country.
Right now, there are about 2,000 high schools in America—about 12 percent of the total number of high schools in America—that produce nearly half of the young people who drop out of school. You’ve got 2,000 schools—about half the dropouts come out of those 2,000 schools. And we know these schools are often found in rural areas or in big cities like Miami. Many of these schools have lots of Haitian Americans and African Americans, Latino and other minority students.
Here’s what I say. I say I am not willing to give up on any child in America. I say I'm not willing to give up on any school in America. I do not accept failure here in America.

Since taking office, the President and his administration have been pursuing policies and working with schools and states to find solutions to the problems that our lowest-performing schools face. Through programs such as Race to the Top, which has seen 40 states raise their standards for teaching and learning, for less than 1 percent of the education budget.

As the President said, Miami Central exemplifies many of the changes necessary to turn a school around:

So outstanding teachers and principals, a common mission, a culture of high expectations—that’s what it takes to turn a school around. That’s what accounts for progress here at Miami Central. And that’s why we are going to support you with what we call School Improvement Grants. You’re one of nearly a thousand schools across America that we’re helping turn around by spurring reform from the bottom up. The bottom up. And the approach that we’re taking with School Improvement Grants and school turnarounds is the same approach that we’re taking on all our education reform efforts.

Throughout March, the President and Education Secretary Arne Duncan will be traveling around the country talking to parents, students, and educators about how to achieve reform, promote responsibility, and deliver results when it comes to education—helping to ensure everyone has a chance at the American dream.

Weekly Address: "Cutting Waste, Investing in the Future"

Mary Hough — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 11:10:05 EST

President Obama, speaking from Miami calls on Democrats and Republicans to come together to find a responsible, long-term agreement on the government's budget for the rest of the financial year—one which cuts spending without putting our economic recovery at risk.

Getting our fiscal house in order can't just be something we use as cover to do away with things we dislike politically. And it can't just be about how much we cut. It's got to be about how we cut and how we invest. We've got to be smart about it. Because if we cut back on the kids I've met here and their education, for example, we'd be risking the future of an entire generation of Americans. And there's nothing responsible about that.

Watch: President Obama visits Miami Central Senior High School

Mary Hough — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:38:49 EST

President Obama is visiting Miami Central Senior High School this afternoon, to talk to students and teachers about winning the future through education. You’ll be able to watch his remarks live online here starting at 4:00 p.m. eastern time.

Miami Central is a turnaround school. Until recently it was persistently one of Miami’s lowest achieving schools; last year it received $784,000 in funding through the School Improvement Grant (SIG).

With help from the SIG and reforms already in place, Miami Central has improved its graduation rate over the past five years from 36 to 63 percent. Speaking to Organizing for America’s Ashley Bauman, Eli Klein, a teacher and Americorps member said that the school has become “a cohesive unit and both teachers and students are investing in their future.”

Through SIG funding and the programs it supports, the administration is helping children trapped in America’s lowest performing schools.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush will be joining President Obama this afternoon. Watch the President’s speech live online here.

February Employment Report: The Economy Added 192,000 Jobs

Josh Cohen — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:11:36 EST

The Labor Department today said that the economy added 192,000 jobs last month. Employment in the private sector grew by 222,000 jobs, and while there were a small number of state and local jobs lost, this new report marks 12 consecutive months of private-sector growth and 1.5 million jobs total. The unemployment rate fell to 8.9 percent, representing the largest percentage drop over a three-month period since 1983 and the first time it dipped below 9 percent since April 2009. While today’s news is an encouraging sign that the economy is headed in the right direction, there are still too many people looking for work. The President is committed to doing everything in his power to build on this momentum and to help accelerate the economic recovery.

In addition to February’s numbers, the Labor Department raised its estimates for job growth in January to 68,000 and December to 167,000, totaling nearly half a million jobs created during the past three months.

American unemployment is still too high, but nearly all signs indicate that the policies enacted by the President and Congressional Democrats are helping to improve the economy now and lay a foundation for long-term future growth. Policies they've enacted, like the payroll tax cut and investment tax credits, are putting more money in the pockets of families and giving small businesses the stability and confidence to hire.

The administration will continue to work with Congress to find ways to reduce spending and make the tough choices to balance the government’s checkbook. But the President will not accept reckless cuts at the expense of economic progress and smart investments in education and infrastructure.

Over the next two weeks, President Obama believes that Democrats and Republicans can reach a reasonable agreement on a budget that funds the government for the rest of the year. He is committed to approaching that process in good faith, with the best interests of the American people in mind.

"Green Eggs and Ham"

Mary Hough — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:41:51 EST

First Lady Michelle Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan celebrated Read Across America Day by reading the Dr. Seuss classic, "Green Eggs and Ham", to elementary school students visiting the Library of Congress.

Good News for the Economy

Mary Hough — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:08:50 EST

Figures released today show two pieces of good news for the economy. The New York Times reports that the number of people requesting unemployment benefits last week dropped to nearly a three-year low.

Looking at the unemployment benefit figures, the article concludes that companies are now more likely to be hiring workers than laying people off, which is good news for the economy and good news for those looking for work:

The government said Thursday that applications for unemployment benefits fell by 20,000 to a seasonally adjusted 368,000. It was the third decline in the four weeks. Applications are now at their lowest level since late May 2008.
The four-week average for applications, a less volatile figure, fell last week to 388,500. That was the lowest level since July 2008, the last time the four-week average was below 400,000.
The downward trend suggests that companies are easing the pace of layoffs now that the economy is gaining momentum. During the recession, companies slashed work forces, cut or froze workers’ pay and took other aggressive steps to reduce costs.
Companies are expected to increase hiring in the month ahead.

In addition, the article goes on to report that productivity in the economy grew at the fastest rate in nine months during the final quarter of 2010. The paper notes that, "for the year, productivity grew 3.9%, the biggest increase in eight years." You can read more about the productivity and unemployment benefit figures here.

The government will publish the employment figures for February tomorrow.

Listen Live to President Obama’s Phone Call to Space

Josh Cohen — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:57:20 EST

Today at 5:03 p.m. EST, President Obama is calling the crews of the Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station – and you’re welcome to join. The call will be streamed live on NASA TV, which you can see by visiting NASA.gov.

Vice President Biden, White House Advisers, To Meet With GOP Leaders On The Budget

Josh Cohen — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 12:09:17 EST

Last night, President Obama signed a stopgap measure that keeps the government running for two weeks, buying time to reach an agreement that continues funding until the end of the fiscal year. President Obama has asked Vice President Biden to lead negotiations with House and Senate leaders of both parties, and invited Republican leaders to the White House today at 4 p.m. to begin that conversation.

Joining Vice President Biden today will be White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley, budget director Jack Lew, House and Senate Democratic leaders, as well as Republican Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

President Obama is committed to reaching a sensible compromise that helps the government live within its means while making smart investments that will keep the economy growing. As the President said yesterday:

This agreement should cut spending and reduce deficits without damaging economic growth or gutting investments in education, research and development that will create jobs and secure our future. This agreement should be bipartisan, it should be free of any party’s social or political agenda, and it should be reached without delay.

That's exactly the goal of this set of meetings.

Celebrating Our Volunteers

Mary Hough — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:34:18 EST

Organizing for America is a movement built on the hard work and dedication of thousands of volunteers across the country—people who give up their free time and their talents to work together to further the President’s agenda.

People like Jenny in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Jenny works behind the scenes, making sure volunteers who are making phone calls or knocking on doors have the right information.

She’s been one of the busiest and most dedicated volunteers in Ann Arbor for many years. You may not have met her, but if you’ve participated in any events in Ann Arbor her skill and effort has most likely helped you do what you do.
Officially, Jenny is a data coordinator, and she’s one of the best east of the Mississippi. She works with our database to make sure we’re talking to the right community members on a wide variety of issues. Her phone lists are always great, but her skill in ‘turf cutting’—-making those spatial lists of people we use when we walk through our neighborhoods and have important conversations. After the calls are made and the doors are knocked, Jenny’s still working to make sure all of the data goes in to the database so our lists are even better next time.

Matthew Elias, from OFA Illinois, describes Tina from Harvey, Illinois, as an “all-star” volunteer. For Tina:

My favorite part is registering new voters. It's priceless, the fact that you are helping someone go through the process of casting a vote in an election is just amazing.

Ryan from St. Louis, Missouri, tells Marty Crimmins from OFA Missouri, that the President inspired him to get involved:

[Volunteering] provides a lot of personal satisfaction. The fact that I can knock on so many doors and still be enthusiastic thanks to the people I meet is a great feeling.

If you’re interested in volunteering with OFA, Nathan Kosted, regional field director in Montana, shares the words of Greg, a local community organizer:

To those of you reading this who want to be part of something special, who are a little bit nervous about joining a campaign or putting yourself out there as a person who wants a better, brighter tomorrow, I say this: with OFA, we are you, we want your voice heard across the country. Whether you are passionate about human rights, economic justice, freedom or peace—we can improve only with your help.

Join people like Jenny, Tina, Ryan, and Greg by volunteering with OFA in your community. You can find out to get involved here.

Reading is the Foundation of Learning

Mary Hough — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 12:29:48 EST

Reading is the building block of education. In his State Of The Union address, President Obama committed America to out-educating the rest of the world. To mark Read Across America Day 2011, the President has issued a proclamation celebrating the love of reading:

Teachers also play an integral role in our students' lives, and educators can help prepare our children to meet the challenges of tomorrow by making reading a key component of classroom activities. Our nation's young people rely on the critical thinking and analytical skills gained from reading to build other areas of knowledge, including the subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The next generation's ability to excel in these disciplines is crucial to America's strength and prosperity in the 21st century.
Read Across America Day marks the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known to the world as Dr. Seuss. Through amusing wordplay and engaging tales, his stories have helped generations of young Americans enjoy reading and sharpen basic reading skills, vital tools for their future success. With parents, teachers, and communities working together, we can ensure reading is a national priority and American pastime. By recommitting to improving literacy and raising the expectations we have for our students, for our schools, and for ourselves, we will win the future for our children and give every child a chance to succeed

50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps

Mary Hough — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:41:01 EST

For half a century, hundreds of thousands of Americans have packed up their lives to help make the world a better place as part of the Peace Corps. These are people working together to achieve change in their community, wherever that community is.

In celebration of the Peace Corps' 50th anniversary, President Obama has issued a proclamation honoring its founders—President John F. Kennedy and Sargent Shriver—and all the volunteers who have taken part:

Over the past five decades, Peace Corps volunteers have served in nearly 140 countries, bringing a wealth of practical assistance to those working to build better lives for themselves and their communities. From the first group of volunteers to arrive in Ghana and Tanzania in August 1961, they have been emissaries of hope and goodwill to the far corners of our world, strengthening the ties of friendship between the people of the United States and those of other countries. Living and working alongside those they serve, volunteers help address changing and complex global needs in education, health and HIV/AIDS, business and information technology, agriculture, environmental protection, and youth development. With each village that now has access to clean water, each young woman who has received an education, and each family empowered to prevent disease because of the service of a Peace Corps volunteer, President Kennedy's noble vision lives on.

A New Resource To Learn More About President Obama’s Budget Priorities

Josh Cohen — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 08:30:54 EST

Last week, President Obama released his proposed federal budget for 2012 – a plan to out-educate, out-innovate, and out-build the rest of the world. This budget makes targeted investments in key areas to help create jobs right now, grow the economy for the long run, and ensure that government lives within its means.

As the President said last week in Cleveland:

To facilitate your success, we’ve got to invest in cutting-edge research and technology. We’ve also got to invest in the skills and training of our workers. And we’ve got to invest in the next transportation and communications networks that move goods and information as fast as possible, because if we don’t, tomorrow’s businesses won’t take root here and you’ll have a harder time competing with the rest of the world.

President Obama’s plan invests in education to help prepare the next generation for the 21st century global marketplace. It invests in innovation to discover the next clean-energy technology that’s going to reduce heating and electricity costs and make America more energy independent. And it invests in our country’s roads, bridges, trains, and broadband Internet infrastructure to create jobs, increase transportation efficiency, and deliver information more quickly to underserved areas.

The President’s budget does this all while reducing the deficit by $1.1 trillion over 10 years, and shrinking spending to levels last seen during the Eisenhower administration.

Learn more about President Obama’s priorities, and then share them with your friends, family, and neighbors.

Stories of Health Reform: Caroline and Janice

Mary Hough — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:32:23 EST

Across the country, millions of American families are being helped by health reform.

Erin McCann, form OFA Missouri, shares the story of Caroline, a grandmother in St. Louis:

When asked what health reform means to Caroline, she simply said, “It’s very practical. It means my granddaughter is covered. It also means that when she’s 26, she’ll be able to get coverage, because [insurance companies] can no longer deny her based on her asthma.
We all have heard of or known or read about too many people who have lost everything because they got sick.
She ended with saying “I have much more faith in the government than the insurance companies to take care of their citizens.”

From Tennessee, Brett Cantrell, shares Janice's story:

My daughter, who is 36 years old and was born with Down Syndrome, could never get insurance because she was disqualified under the pre-existing condition clause. I first started advocating for health reform 34 years ago by writing my senators and have been pushing for reform ever since by writing letters to the editor.
Because of the Affordable Care Act, I just got letter from my insurance company telling me that my policy is no longer subject to a lifetime maximum of $250,000. My daughter can no longer be denied access to insurance because of her pre-existing condition.
It is so important to me that people know that health reform is not just for poor people, but that it helps middle-class working people like me and my family—and if it is repealed we would lose control of our own health care and my daughter would have no insurance and we would lose the protection that came with eliminating the lifetime maximum.

Today, President Obama endorsed commonsense changes to the Affordable Care Act, to give states greater flexibility to meet the health care needs of their residents, starting in 2014. You can find out how health reform is already helping millions of Americans in your community here.

President Obama on Health Reform: I Support Innovation and Empowering States

Josh Cohen — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:02:52 EST

Earlier today, President Obama spoke to a bipartisan group of governors from across the country. He discussed the common challenges he and state policymakers share: promoting economic growth and helping to rebuild our country, while doing so in a way that is fiscally responsible.

President Obama also underscored the commitment he feels to empower states to find health care solutions that work best for them – and announced his support for a measure that would accelerate the timetable for giving states flexibility in tailoring and operating the reformed health system for the needs of their residents.

The President told the nation's governors that he backs the Empowering States to Innovate Act:

A few weeks ago, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat, Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown, a Republican, and Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu, they proposed legislation that would accelerate that provision, so it would allow states to apply for such a waiver by 2014 instead of 2017. I think that’s a very reasonable proposal. I support it. It will give you flexibility more quickly, while still guaranteeing the American people reform. If your state can create a plan that covers as many people as affordably and comprehensively as the Affordable Care Act does – without increasing the deficit – you can implement that plan, and we’ll work with you to do it. I’ve said before, I don’t believe that either party holds a monopoly on good ideas. And I will go to bat for whatever works, no matter who or where it comes from.

This measure would allow state governments to apply for State Innovation Waivers, which will empower policymakers to adapt national law established under the Affordable Care Act specifically to meet local needs, three years earlier than under current law. The proposal gives states greater flexibility and creative license to implement the law in unique ways – but would still ensure residents have access to affordable and accessible health insurance without adding a dime to the federal deficit.

Those who support reform have always envisioned a crucial role for states.

The Affordable Care Act provides states with the flexibility and resources to innovate new policies that work best for their particular state. In fact, the legislation has provided states with nearly $2.8 billion to improve health insurance accountability and affordability for their residents – improvements that have already led to greater insurance-company transparency, protections for consumers, and the end to some of the worst insurance-industry abuses. To date, every state has taken steps to implement these reforms.

Under the law, governors and legislatures are empowered to design and administer health care exchanges, new state-by-state marketplaces where insurance plans compete for customers based on the quality of coverage and cost to the consumer. They also will be able to improve and adapt their Medicaid programs, enforce patient protections, review the rate increases of private health insurance providers, and more.

And if states have other ideas about how to implement reform, State Innovation Wavers give them the chance to implement those ideas. But the federal government will provide these waivers only to states with inventive policies that are at least as:

Comprehensive as it would be under the Affordable Care Act;
Affordable as it would be under the Affordable Care Act; and,
Available to as many residents as it would be under the Affordable Care Act.

Lastly, states would also only be eligible for an innovation waiver as long as their policy does not increase the federal deficit.

President Obama today repeated that he is not interested in re-litigating the fights of the past. Instead, he wants to work with governors, policymakers, and health care experts to tweak and improve the Affordable Care Act so that works best for those tasked with its implementation.

As the President said, this is the bottom line:

Once fully implemented, I’m convinced the Affordable Care Act will do what it was designed it to do -- cut costs, cover everybody, end the worst abuses in the insurance industry, and bring down our long-term deficits. I am not open to re-fighting the battles of the last two years, or undoing the progress that we’ve made. But I am willing to work with anyone -- anybody in this room, Democrat or Republican, governors or member of Congress -- to make this law even better; to make care even better; to make it more affordable and fix what needs fixing.

That is why President Obama is taking this stand today.

Weekly Address: Traveling the Country, Winning the Future

Josh Cohen — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 12:02:22 EST

President Obama discusses his recent travels throughout the country and highlights the types of companies and business models he’s seen that will help America win the future. As the budget debate comes to a head, the President urges Congress to heed these examples and to tighten our belts while still investing in areas that will grow our economy: innovation, education, and infrastructure.

A Message to the OFA Online Community

Mary Hough — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:55:39 EST

The BarackObama.com blog has a long and vibrant tradition not just as a destination for the latest news and info, but as a place for people to share their thoughts and connect with one another. We wanted to take a minute and let you know how much we appreciate you being part of this community, and how much your comments and thoughts each day inspire us.

In order to foster real dialogue and real conversations, we have always had an open policy that allows people to see comments as soon as they are posted. Creating a space for these conversations is important to us, and it's something we're committed to preserving. But occasionally, a handful of people do try to take advantage of this openness, not to create community but to disrupt it.

In the coming weeks, we'll be working to improve the commenting features and the commenting experience for everyone. As part of this, we’re publishing three simple guidelines for commenting on here on the BarackObama.com blog:

1. Be respectful of the community:
Personal attacks are not welcome nor will they be tolerated. By all means, engage in debate and have a strong discussion about the issues, but don’t descend into personal attacks.

2. Don’t feed the trolls:
If you do come across comments that are inappropriate, don’t respond to them. Simply flag the comment as “offensive” and we can take action. The more of you who are joining in on flagging “offensive” comments, the faster we'll be able to respond.

3. Just because someone disagrees with you doesn’t make them a troll:
This should be a space for safe discussion of the issues of the day, with people who all come from different backgrounds and different perspectives. Sometimes you’ll disagree, that’s OK.

We hope that these will help preserve the integrity of this community, and continue to ensure that this is a place that you can turn to for important news, good conversation, and fun.

Thank you.

Small Business Canvass 2011

Mary Hough — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:35:57 EST

All week, Organizing for America volunteers have been out in their communities, talking to small business owners about how President Obama and his administration are helping businesses thrive and grow.

In Pontiac, Michigan, Steven, the owner of a local barber shop welcomed the visit by long-time OFA volunteer, Constance, who stopped by to talk to him. Steven said:

No one has come here before to talk about this. Thank you so much. I am too busy to keep up with all the things the President is doing, so I look forward to reading this material.

After speaking to Steven, and visiting a local barbershop, fish market, and two small restaurants, Constance said:

I am so happy we are reaching out to our local business owners and showing them we care, and the President cares about them.

Toan Nguyen, the owner of a local coffee house in Charlottesville, Virginia, has been helped by measures the President put into place, and is now helping OFA spread the word about the support available:

In the wake of last year's blizzards, Cville Coffee was closed for weeks and fell months behind on the rent due to the lost revenue. Faced with the threat of losing his family’s home, Toan didn’t know where to turn for help. Another local business owner told him about zero-interest emergency loans available through the Recovery Act, passed in 2009.
Toan applied for and received the Recovery Act loan, which he says saved his home and his business, “Creditors were at our door, we couldn’t pay the rent for the shop. If we had not received that loan, we would have had to put our house on the market.”

Brandi Edwards, in Indiana, spoke to Kenny, the owner of a local barbershop:

[H]e can see that the economy is making a turn for the better because more people are coming into the barbershop and from the conversations he has with his patrons.
Kenny mentioned that small business owners, like him, sometimes feel voiceless compared to corporations—adding that he thinks President Obama is working hard for small businesses.

Noralee told Emily Dulcan, OFA Californina communications director, about the great experience she had going out on her first small business canvass:

People were initially a little taken aback because they were being listened to, as well as asked for their input. Once we showed them the informational handouts, explained what websites to visit, and clarified the purpose of the upcoming conference call, many became talkative. They were pleased to hear that President Obama is interested in small businesses and several said "thank you" for asking their opinions.

In Marion, Iowa, Heleane Golden, an active OFA volunteer, was part of a team of five volunteers who visited nine small businesses in an hour:

Overall, business owners were flattered that we felt their opinions were important to us and to President Obama. And I know one thing's for sure—if even just one small business owner who we spoke to this afternoon learned something new that will help their business grow, the day will have been well worth our effort.

You can find out about activities in you community by checking the OFA page for your state.

“Such a Valuable Experience:” OFA Summer Organizer Program

Mary Hough — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:58:38 EST

Organizing for America is recruiting hard-working, talented folks to our Summer Organizer Program all over the country. Matt Golab took part in the program in Arizona last summer, and talks about why he became involved and what the program meant to him.

Q. Why did you apply to be a summer organizer?

A. I became a summer organizer shortly after I graduated from the University of Arizona in Tucson. I decided to work with Organizing For America because I had always been interested in being involved in the political field, but wanted to connect more with my own community. The Summer Organizer Program allowed me to test the political waters, while connecting back to local volunteers and grassroots networks.

Q. What did you do as a summer organizer?

A. I was responsible for planning volunteer activities, recruiting volunteers, and preparing volunteers to run their own events—and building a stronger volunteer network for the midterm 2010 elections. I gained a ton of experience in coordinating a large number of volunteers and managing different events. We had a couple of volunteer activities out of the office each week, but we also planned for larger, monthly days of action where we would get 30 volunteers in the office in one day!

Q. What projects did you work on?

A. My main responsibility each week was to prepare for and manage a weekly voter registration drive in South Phoenix. I was responsible for recruiting volunteers, making sure that they had the right info for the event, training them to handle voter registration logistics, and managing volunteers on the day.

I was consistently impressed by the energy of my volunteers, especially at my weekly voter registration drives—I never thought volunteers would be so eager to help us register voters every Saturday, outside the public library, in the middle of July and the Phoenix 100-degree heat!

Q. Did you enjoy your experience?

A. I am so glad that I got to participate in the Summer Organizer Program. It taught me so much about the value of grassroots organizing and managing a large group of volunteers.

Q. Would you recommend the program to other folks?

A. The Summer Organizer Program is such a valuable experience, not only for the personal management skills learned, but also for the great volunteers that you get to work with. The program allows you the flexibility to work on your own projects, while providing you the support and structure to make your events and experience successful. This is a great program for anyone interested in connecting better with their community and helping the President achieve his goals.

Apply here to take your first step toward joining folks like Matt on the Summer Organizer Program this year.

A New Resource To Learn More About President Obama’s Budget Priorities

Josh Cohen — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:44:50 EST

As the economy begins to recover from the worst recession in 80 years, President Obama proposed a plan to strengthen the incubators of growth while also helping our country live within its means. The plan makes targeted investments in education, innovation, and infrastructure – and is designed not just to create jobs right now but also to reinforce the pillars of long-term stability.

A budget is more than just a list of numbers – it represents President Obama’s vision for America’s future. You can learn more about the President’s priorities by clicking here.

The President’s plan prepares our next generation to meet the challenges of a 21st century economy by training 100,000 additional science, technology, engineering, and math teachers. It sets a goal of putting 1 million electric cars on the road by 2015 and doubles the share of clean-energy electricity by 2035. It lays out a mission of building a wireless broadband network that will bring high-speed Internet to 98 percent of Americans.

The President’s budget cuts the deficit by $1.1 trillion in 10 years, reducing government spending and making tough choices in the federal budget just as families across the country make every day. And reorganizes government to be more efficient and increase America’s competitiveness.

Take a minute to learn more about President Obama’s priorities, and then share them in your community.

Listening to Small Businesses

Mary Hough — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:12:11 EST

President Obama answered questions from small businesses owners yesterday, as part of a live online session of Advise the Advisers. The President and his economic team were in Cleveland, Ohio, to speak to small businesses owners about their ideas for winning the future.

[S]mall businesses are going to be the ones that I think are going to be making the biggest impact on regions like this one—a lot of risk-takers, a lot of entrepreneurs here.
What we wanted to do is make sure that we listen to small businesses, hear from them, find out what kind of barriers they’re meeting—whether it’s capital, or finding the right workforce, or how do they partner with larger companies. And so far we've already gotten some terrific ideas.

President Obama in Cleveland: You’re Reinventing “the Rust Belt as the Tech Belt”

Josh Cohen — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 09:08:13 EST

Yesterday, President Obama traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, to address a forum on small business. Drawing on his vision to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world, President Obama praised Cleveland as the embodiment of America’s ability to reinvent itself – to imagine and create the industries of tomorrow:

[W]hy come to Cleveland? And I said, not only are big things happening here but they’re emblematic of what’s happening all across the Midwest and all across the country. This is a city that was founded on manufacturing, like a lot of cities in the Midwest. And as the economy changed, a lot of people wrote off Cleveland as a shell of its former self. But you, all of you in the audience, you knew differently. You’ve been working to reinvent the Rust Belt as the Tech Belt. So you’ve got fiber optics cables that now run beneath Cleveland’s streets like the railroads and highways of the 21st century, drawing new businesses to open their doors downtown. Your universities, your hospitals, entrepreneurs, businesses have all teamed up to get biotechnology and clean energy from imagination to reality, and as a consequence, you’ve made Cleveland an emerging global leader in both fields.

Historically, small businesses have created two-thirds of all American jobs, and they continue to be an engine of growth. The President’s forum today was designed to address five obstacles faced by small businesses: entrepreneurship and turning ideas into businesses; access to capital; workforce development; exporting goods around the world;and forging clean energy industries.

To help entrepreneurs gain access to capital, President Obama has proposed eliminating unnecessary regulations and has enacted at least 17 tax cuts for small businesses, including the elimination of capital gains taxes on investments made by small businesses. Additionally, the President discussed a new initiative called Startup America. This program establishes networking opportunities in specific fields and regions, connecting entrepreneurs with information that will help them succeed.

Highlighting organizations like JumpStart, President Obama vaunted local efforts to help aggregate resources for entrepreneurs:

JumpStart has worked to help more than 3,000 local businesses lift off and pull together the resources required to keep them aloft in what they call an “entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

Released last week, the President’s budget makes smart investments in the economic drivers of growth, small businesses. It invests in innovation as a down payment on America’s ability to create what’s next. Even if it isn’t easy, Americans have always risen to meet that challenge:

We’ve never taken the easy route. We’ve always done what’s hard. We’ve been willing to take risks to do big things. And we also get each other’s backs, just like you’re doing here in Cleveland, because we know that when it comes to America’s success, there’s no room for division between business and labor, and Democrats and Republicans. When it comes to competing for jobs and industries, we are on one team, and that is the American team. We will rise and fall together. I absolutely believe that. And if we keep that in mind, there’s nothing we can’t do.

Read the President’s full remarks at the small business forum in Cleveland.

What Are You Doing This Summer?

Mary Hough — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:06:47 EST

This year, Organizing for America will be training a new team of summer organizers—hardworking and talented folks who are committed to helping strengthen our democracy in communities across the country.

Folks like Matt, who was a summer organizer in 2010. He applied after finishing college because:

“I had always been interested in being involved in the political field, but wanted to connect more to my own community.”

Anand started as a summer organizer in 2009 and is now an OFA regional field director in Denver:

“The summer organizer program gave me the opportunity to build relationships with a diverse group of people. My volunteers and I work together because of our shared values and belief that our work makes the difference in holding our congressional members accountable for American progress.”

For Lauren, who couldn’t find a job after college, the program was life changing:

“I can honestly look back at the decision to fill out the Summer Organizer Program application as a turning point in my life. The experience didn’t just teach me the skills I needed to become an RFD. The program taught me skills that will benefit me in all times of life honestly, and I gained friendships and mentors that I treasure. I would strongly recommend that anyone who has the chance take this opportunity and run with it.”

If you’re interested in learning more about the Summer Organizer Program and joining folks like Lauren, Anand, and Matt in helping support the President's agenda, you can find out more here.

Watch: President Obama - Today at 1:00 p.m.

Mary Hough — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:53:11 EST

In a special edition of Advise the Advisers, President Obama will be joining Austan Goolsbee, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, to respond to feedback from small business owners.

The President and his economic team will be coming live from Cleveland, Ohio, where they are hosting a Winning the Future forum. They will hear ideas from business owners and entrepreneurs for ways to continue growing the economy and ask for feedback on what the Administration can do to help them serve their communities.

You can watch Advise the Advisers, live with the President, online at 1:00 p.m. today.

Weekly Address: “To Win the Future, America Must Win the Global Competition in Education”

Mary Hough — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 13:03:20 EST

Speaking in Portland, Oregon, President Obama reiterated his commitment to ensuring American schools deliver a world-class education. Through reforms such as “Race to the Top,” working to make college more affordable, revitalizing community colleges, and launching a nationwide initiative to connect graduates to the businesses that need their skills, America's youth will have the opportunities they need to become the entrepreneurs and innovators of the future.

“If we want to win the global competition for new jobs and industries, we’ve got to win the global competition to educate our people. We’ve got to have the best trained, best skilled workforce in the world. That’s how we’ll ensure that the next Intel, the next Google, or the next Microsoft is created in America, and hires American workers.”

“Things Are Getting Better”

Mary Hough — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:55:24 EST

Across the country folks are heading out in their communities to talk to small business owners about the measures that President Obama and Democrats in Congress have put in place to support small businesses, and to listen to their concerns and ideas for the future.

On Wednesday afternoon, a team of four volunteers were out and about in Arlington, Virginia. Charley and Donna, longtime Democrat supporters and active Organizing for America volunteers stopped by a local print shop to talk to the owners.

Cathy and Jay took over the family business 11 years ago from Cathy’s parents, who opened their first shop in 1983. They have been having a tough time of it over the past few months, but recently they’ve started to be able to catch up with themselves, Cathy said:

“Things are getting back to normal. After a long period of feeling nervous about the future, things are feeling good again.”

Cathy and Jay both appreciated Charley and Donna stopping by. As Cathy said, it’s not every day you get asked for your ideas to give back to the President.

Sarah and Solen spoke to Ed, the owner of a local auto shop.

Ed’s auto shop is based in a low-income community, and unlike his big-brand competitors, Ed says he hasn’t raised his prices over the past few years, he knows that his customers are having a tough time as well. To keep his business afloat he’s been working 15 hours a day, six days a week. Originally from Morocco, Ed and his family see their job as much more than just auto parts—the work they do is a service to the community.

Appreciative of Sarah and Solen stopping by to speak to him and to listen to his story, Ed has volunteered his auto shop as a place that OFA supporters can meet in the future.

Every small business owner has their own story to tell about their experiences over the past few months and years, but as Ed, Cathy, and Jay show, they are stories of hard work and commitment in tough times—but with a brighter future ahead.

“A Party I’ll Never Forget: The Super Bowl Party at the White House”

Mary Hough — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:55:46 EST

Last Friday we shared the story of Ellen, an Organizing for America volunteer and Packers fan, who was invited to the White House to watch the Super Bowl. Today, we’re hearing from the other side. Nancy Bobo, a Steelers fan, writes about the Super Bowl party she’ll never forget.

George and Martha were there. So was Abe, peering down at us from their centuries’-old paintings in that stately grand mansion called the White House. Babies and kids were playing games, dancing, and eating pizza. Moms and dads were enjoying brats and beer and all the rest. My husband, Bo, and I were there too—regular folks from Des Moines. It was a party that I’ll never forget: a Super Bowl party at the White House!
When we arrived at the entrance, it was wonderful to see a familiar face at the gate, White House aide Kevin Harris, whom I knew from Iowa Caucus days. I did Kevin’s laundry throughout his stay in Des Moines during the campaign, and having seen our names on the guest list, Kevin had come down to say hello.
Entering the White House, we were greeted by numerous personnel, a full buffet of tailgate food (burgers, brats, wings, salads, chips, and yummy dips) and friendly bartenders at two bars that had been set up. There was seating for about 50 in the atrium area and probably another 200 or so in the East Dining Room, where four big-screen televisions and a room full of small tables waited for the party to begin.
A couple guys from Florida invited us to join them at a table in the front—and so began our night at the White House. We soon learned that the President and Mrs. Obama were forming a receiving line in the Blue Room, and we were encouraged to make our way there. The line flowed through the State Dining Room—complete with a Dance Revolution machine, ping-pong table, and tables of games.
We moved on through the Red Room to the Blue Room, where the President and Mrs. Obama were receiving guests. Their warmth enveloped us as Bo and I were greeted with warm hugs. Having been involved in the early days of the Iowa Caucus season, going back to February 2007, we had met them numerous times over the past several years. I told Michelle that someone was going to need to pinch me to prove this whole thing was real, and she playfully obliged, practically tickling me on both sides, remarking “Here you go!”
Along with the Florida senator and his friend, we were joined by the Reverend Al Sharpton and his daughter, all Steelers supporters in a sea of Packers fans. As the Packers pulled ahead, I had fun taunting them and trying to feed them Packers cookies from the serving table.
As others became engaged in the game, I sat in wonder of where I was. I got up throughout the night just to take walks as far as I could go inside the White House. I had time to myself in each of the grand rooms and peered out each window to the surrounding grounds and view of the Washington Monument. I visited with the kids in the State Dining Room, an intern from Michigan, and various aides positioned throughout the area. I met the former governor of Mississippi, another early Obama supporter. I moved on and met Valerie Jarrett, a senior advisor to the President and an old friend of the Obamas from Chicago. She was very warm and friendly and thanked us for our work in Iowa. She noted with appreciation what the folks of Iowa had done for the Obamas, saying, “We LOVE Iowa!”
Going back upstairs to the party, the room had grown more animated as the game moved on (yeah, there was a game too!). The room was full of people just having a great time. The President sat and talked with the Rev. Sharpton for a while and then briefly with us, all the time with his hand on my husband’s shoulder. As the game wound down to the last minute, the President rose to leave our table and asked how we were doing. I couldn’t help but further my plea. I said, “We’re fine, Mr. President, but the Reverend here won’t eat the Packers cookies, and we’re definitely winning this game now.” They both cracked up and the White House photographer snapped a photo.
The evening wound up, and the President and Mrs. Obama stayed to say their last farewells. I made my husband linger with me as long as we could before leaving. This was a night to cherish, and I did—every single minute of it."

Live from Madison, Wisconsin

Elizabeth Chan — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:25:48 EST

Thursday marked the third straight day of rallies in Madison, Wisconsin—where students, nurses, public safety officers, and others are gathering to stand up for the rights of Wisconsin state employees.

Republican Governor Walker Scott Walker has proposed a radical plan to take away the collective bargaining rights of public workers. Those who teach and those who plow the snow-filled Wisconsin streets would no longer be able to organize for better working conditions and rights in the workplace.

Since Tuesday, the streets of Madison and the halls of the Capitol building have been filled with thousands of ordinary folks who are sending the strongest message possible to their state legislators—their rights are not up for negotiation.

Organizing for America–Wisconsin, who has been among the most vocal advocates for state employees’ rights, is tweeting live from the rallies and pulling together the voices, videos, and photos of this movement.

Take a look at some of their recent tweets:

For more live, on-the-ground coverage from Madison, be sure to follow @OFA_WI on Twitter.

“Protect Our State”

Mary Hough — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 14:32:23 EST

Workers in Madison, WI, are rallying to defend their rights. Thousands of people went to the Capitol yesterday to show their support for nurses, teachers’ aides and state workers who are mobilizing to defend their right to collective bargaining. Jessie Lidbury, regional field director in Madison, shares the story of yesterday’s events.

“Protect our state!” came the cry from the capital streets. They were lined with workers, students, and rights activists who hope that Governor Walker and our state legislature will hear their voices above the noise of their own interests.
As they walked their talk, workers received waves and supportive honks from passing cars as Day 2 of protests commenced.
The emotion of seeing this unfold, of being truly present has been overwhelming. We are truly among the people—people who are not coming to see someone speak, but to be heard themselves.
Melissa is a social worker in Madison, a mother of two, and her husband is a teacher. With two jobs in the public sector, their livelihoods are at risk, but that's not the only thing: “I’m here also because I have two kids, and their education is important to me. If this bill passes, it hurts their teachers, their schools.”
Just before noon the swell of supporters grew to the thousands as workers, union members, and allies all approached the Capitol steps. Coming up State Street a troop of student nurses held their banner high and proudly marched.
Soon after, bagpipes sounded as the firefighters joined, while rally-goers gave them an awe-inspiring round of cheers.
The crowd had to wrap around the entire Capitol block. Several speakers on behalf of their unions, and their jobs, spoke up: “This is only the beginning! We will fight back.”
But rallying wasn’t the only action we took. We also listened, taking the time to soak it all as we walked through the halls. We saw and heard people echoing chants: “People. United. Will never be defeated,” “Si, se puede!” cried a group of Latino students and educators marching through the halls. “Protect our state!” was demanded throughout the corridors.
But the music to our ears was also the impromptu singing. “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and “This Land is Your Land” gave life to the thousands of voices inside with banjo and drum playing within the crowded rotunda.
While walking from one floor to the other, each packed from balcony to balcony, workers were going up to strangers, shaking hands, and taking the time to say, “Thank you for your service.”
We also were able to thank Alicia, a home care worker of 15 years.
"People have been working as home care workers for 10-15 years and haven't had a raise. They are the lifeline to the patients they see, especially the ones who don't have family nearby.” When asked what she saw on a day-to-day basis in her work she shared, “People don’t understand, we're not there just playing cards. We're helping them with their bills, cleaning, helping with long-term living. We are the lifeline.”
Inside the building it has been a wonderful crush. Outside hundreds are also walking around the Capitol and the surrounding sidewalks with their signs pleading with not just our legislators and our governor, but also for the people of Wisconsin to take notice.
Well, we’ve noticed. And we have one thing to say right now: to our allies in the labor movement, to our brothers and sisters in public work, we stand with you, and we stand strong.

You can follow today’s developments, as they happen, on the Organizing for America Wisconsin Twitter feed.

“Fight for Our State Workers”

Mary Hough — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 11:45:00 EST

UPDATE: For the past two days, thousands of workers have been gathering at the State Capitol in Madison, WI, to defend their rights in the workplace. From nurses to police officers, public sector workers and OFA volunteers have been protesting against proposed legislation to take away workers' rights to bargain collectively. With a vote on the legislation expected as early as today, volunteers are already gathering at the Capitol this morning. It's going to be a big day in Madison and you can follow updates throughout the day on the OFA Wisconsin Twitter feed.

Organizing for America is mobilizing on the ground in Wisconsin to defend the rights of public employees from an attempt by the governor to take away their right to organize.

Jessie Lidbury, regional field organizer, explains why this is so important:

We’ve got a fight on our hands and it’s personal. Over the past few days serious developments have surfaced of Governor Scott Walker presenting a “Budget Repair Bill” that will essentially gut collective bargaining for public employees here in our own backyard of Wisconsin.
Over the next couple days nurses, teachers, snowplow drivers, prison guards, and public servants will be standing together to let Governor Walker, know what is at stake: livelihoods, heath care, our children's education, and the rights of all workers.

With a vote scheduled to happen by Thursday, February 17th, just six days after this bill was introduced, we are asking our legislators and our governor to think before they act—to listen to how we will hurt.
Here are the facts, Wisconsin's public employees have gone without pay raises while taking unpaid furlough days. By making cuts with this “Budget Repair Bill”, the negotiating rights of nursing aids, teachers, correctional offices, and others will be taken away.
State employees already agreed to more than $100 million in concessions in a contract settlement that the governor scuttled before even taking office.
If this bill passes, most public employees, working for state and local governments as well as school districts, would no longer have the right to bargain collectively with their employer over any issue except pay, and even that would be capped. They would no longer be legally allowed to bargain collectively on issues such as the quality of their working environment or the funding teachers and other state employees need to do their jobs.
Our job as organizers is to take action, and what better way than to help out our friends in the labor community. The vote could happen as soon as tomorrow so we need to act now.

If you, your friends or family are in Wisconsin, find out how to get involved now.

The President’s Priorities: What do you think?

Josh Cohen — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:10:34 EST

Earlier this week, President Obama released his budget for 2012. It outlines his strategy to win the future by preparing our country to meet the challenges of tomorrow, while also trimming wasteful spending and cutting the deficit. But the budget can be complex and easily distorted by people interested in scoring cheap political points. With your help, that won’t happen.

OFA volunteers are helping to take up the President’s mantle and make the case for these priorities in communities across the country. But OFA needs your input to help inform that organizing.

Learn about the President’s priorities and weigh in on which is most important to you.

Your feedback is important. In many ways, each of us is not just an ambassador of the President’s message. We’re also OFA’s eyes and ears on the ground.

Stories of Health Reform: Letters to the Editor

Mary Hough — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:31:07 EST

Folks across the country have been making their voices heard in defense of the Affordable Care Act. As Republicans in Congress threaten to take away the benefits of health reform from millions of Americans, Organizing for America supporters have been writing to their local papers to share their stories of how health reform is helping them and the people they know.

Peter DeFranco, writes about his experience as a health care professional in the Birmingham News.

I have been in private practice for 25 years, and during this period, I have witnessed the continued erosion of health insurance benefits while premiums skyrocket. …
Health care premiums continue to go up while coverage for the care we are trained to provide gets reduced. It won't be long before all your insurance company is going to reimburse your doctor for is recommendations to eat chicken soup and come back in six weeks. …
We have a president and Congress with the political courage to stand up against this abuse, and the Republican Party wants to reverse it. Everyone should be absolutely appalled. …
If the Republican Party is successful, I hope you have lots of chicken soup on hand.

Jasheena Shelton, in the Fredericksburg Star tells her story of how the Affordable Care Act fixes the broken system of the past.

I am a college graduate with a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. When the company I was employed by went bankrupt three years ago, I found myself in an unemployment downward spiral that lasted two and a half years. My unemployment benefits helped until they ran out.
I understand that the Affordable Care Act provides Americans with more freedom and control in their health care choices.
When you do not have insurance and you have to take your sick child to the hospital, you feel bad and then you question if the care they are given is really the best option—or is it a quick fix to get you out of there? I have been there, and it is a painful place to be. …
Now, I have a part-time job that does not provide benefits. My husband's full-time job does provide benefits, yet they are too expensive for us right now. We try to provide preventive care and homeopathic remedies, but when I had insurance, it was one less thing to worry about.
Life is about living, and when you have affordable insurance with low premiums and co-pays, you can live a little bit better, with a sigh of relief!

Linda Grey-Willson is one of millions of Americans whose children can stay on their parents’ insurance until they are 26. She shares her story in the Fort Collins Coloradoan.

For now, both my sons are safely back on my husband's group insurance thanks to the health-care bill.
My 22-year-old has a pre-existing condition and as he has just finished college, he would have had a hard time finding an insurance company to cover him.
We already have had some experience with our 20-year-old using independent insurance. Not only was it expensive, but when my son had hospital bills to pay due to an accident, it took more than 10 months for the insurance company to pay out.
I was so stressed that I thought I might end up in the hospital.

Health reform is helping millions of Americans. You can find out how it’s helping people in your community here.

What It Means To Invest In Innovation

Josh Cohen — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:31:58 EST

In President Obama’s State of the Union address, he promised that the United States would out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world. He said:

None of us can predict with certainty what the next big industry will be or where the new jobs will come from. Thirty years ago, we couldn’t know that something called the Internet would lead to an economic revolution. What we can do -- what America does better than anyone else -- is spark the creativity and imagination of our people.

The budget the President proposed this week takes another step forward in fulfilling that pledge – in part by bolstering innovation.

Today, we are competing with scientists and engineers around the world to create and manufacture clean, renewable energy technologies, discover the latest in biomedical research, implement cutting edge business models, and prepare our next generation to meet the challenges of the future. President Obama’s proposal strengthens America’s capacity to innovate and imagine the new industries of tomorrow.

Here are the highlights from President’s plan to encourage innovation.

Invest in Research and Development and Create Transformational Technologies. For years, the United States has led the world in research and development (R&D) spending and our ability to turn those findings into practical uses. The 2012 budget provides R&D investments to create “transformational technologies” that will power the businesses and industries of the future -- which means prioritizing clean energy technologies, advanced manufacturing technologies, and cyber security.

Bring the Best Minds Together to Advance Critical Energy Research. The 2012 budget develops programs that will recruit scientists, thinkers, and engineers from different disciplines to work together on the pressing issues of the day. The budget doubles the number of Energy Innovation Hubs to create a forum for collaboration related to critical materials, including rare earth elements; batteries and energy storage; and the development of new grid materials and systems to help SmartGrid technology and improve energy transmission efficiency.

Simplify, Expand, and Make Permanent the Research and Experimentation Tax Credit. A Research and Experimentation (R&E) tax credit offers incentives for private firms to make crucial investments that increase our pipeline to innovation.

Improve the Patent System and Protect Intellectual Property. The President’s planstrengthens the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s efforts to expedite and improve the quality of patent examinations – so that new technology and innovations can go to market.

Help Innovative Small Businesses Obtain Financing. The Small Business Administration will create a new program, the Innovation Fund, to help fill the capital gap between "angel investor" financing and later-stage financing. In each of the next five years, as much as $200 million will be available to investors interested in supporting businesses poised to grow their operations and create jobs.

Enhance Regional Economic Competitiveness. Competitive regional economies often become national engines of growth, but can benefit from best practices learned by other successful businesses. Through the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration and other federal agencies, the Administration will support efforts to foster collaboration for regional development, regional business strategies, and investments under the America COMPETES Act that promote innovation, regional competitiveness, and employment growth. The Obama administration also is investing in a Growth Zone to augment economic restoration in hard-hit areas of our country, delivering tax incentives for investment and hiring and greater access to government assistance.

Support Biomedical Research at the National Institutes of Health.The President’s budget boosts support for basic and applied biomedical research through the National Institutes of Health, and helps to forge new collaborations among government, academia, and industry -- which will help to develop cures and treatments for cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and autism spectrum disorders.

Expand Next-Generation, Wireless Broadband throughout the Country. This strategy expands access to advances wireless technology to expand business operations and economic growth by freeing underutilized spectrum through the Wireless Innovation and Infrastructure Initiative. This initiative will build a wireless broadband network for public safety, expand high-speed, wireless broadband to rural America, and establish a Wireless Innovation Fund to accelerate the research and development of cutting-edge wireless technologies.

Prepare 100,000 STEM Teachers over the Next Decade. To be competitive in the 21st Century, American students must master science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The President’s plan is an ambitious effort to prepare 100,000 teachers in these subject areas during the next 10 years, recruit 10,000 of these teachers over the next two years, and launches Education Department initiatives innovate, develop, implement, and test new teacher-training programs.

You can click here to learn more about the President’s priorities.

How the Budget Works

Mary Hough — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 16:19:41 EST

The publication of President Obama’s budget yesterday is only the start of the process for securing congressional approval and funding for important programs.

The President’s budget sets out how the government should spend its resources and how much revenue it collects, with the difference between the two marking the deficit or surplus.

Through the budget the President sets out his priorities for the coming year in all areas of government spending, e.g. defense, health, education, and agriculture. It includes recommendations for specific programs. For instance, rather than setting out a specific dollar amount for education spending, yesterday’s budget included a number of funding proposals for individual programs, from child care to teachers’ leadership programs.

These types of funding requests are known as discretionary spending, which President Obama's budget reduces to the lowest level since President Eisenhower.

After the President publishes his proposed budget it goes to Congress for consideration. The Budget Committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate will hold hearings and hear testimony from administration officials. Following these hearings the committees will develop budget resolutions, that recommend spending for 19 broad categories, rather than specific programs, which are each sent to the full House and Senate for a vote.

Because the budget resolutions have been developed by two separate committees the House and the Senate will come together to resolve any differences between the two. The budget resolution that comes out of this process is binding, and it is one of the few pieces of legislation that cannot be filibustered in the Senate.

After the broad budget resolution is passed by both houses of Congress responsibility for allocating funding to specific programs falls to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and sub-committees. They too hold hearings, receive testimony, and develop resolutions—this time to fund specific programs. This spending is dependent on Congress passing further legislation, known as appropriations bills.

There’s no certainty that the specific funding the President recommended at the start of the process will be the funding that committees allocate at the end of the process. Sometimes, as happened last year, Congress does not pass a budget resolution at all. When that happens the previous years’ budget stays in effect, through a series of measures known as a continuing resolutions. This is a temporary renewal of the previous year’s budget, until agreement on the new budget can be reached.

President Obama and Democrats in Congress will be working hard to make sure that this year’s budget is passed. You can find out more about the 2012 budget here.

Budget 2012: Education

Mary Hough — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 18:28:50 EST

Education is at the heart of the budget the President announced today. Following his commitment at the State of the Union to ensure America “out-educates” the rest of the world, the budget President Obama unveiled today lays the foundation for reforming education in our country and works to ensure that every child graduates high school.

A child’s opportunities can be determined by factors early in their life, well before they start school. To this end the budget includes $8 billion for Head Start and Early Head Start programs, maintaining the investment made through the Recovery Act, alongside funds to support child-care subsidies and improve the quality of child care available.

Reforming our schools is about more than just increasing funding, it’s about investing in programs that have been proven to work. In the President’s proposal, states will be encouraged to adopt higher educational standards and will be rewarded for helping all students graduate from high school and be ready for the world of work. Existing programs that are delivering results will benefit:

$300 million for Investing in Innovation, a program that builds on best practices in student learning;
$372 million for innovative and autonomous public schools, like charter schools, that achieve results;
$300 million for College and Career Ready Students, which rewards schools that show the most progress in improving the achievement of at risk-students.

The key to a good education is a good teacher. The budget includes funding to support teachers delivering a high-quality education to their students, and $100m for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers that support academic enrichment for children in high-poverty and low-performing schools.

For many children, what happens outside the classroom can be just as important as what happens in it. The $150 million for Promise Neighborhoods would support children in lower-income communities from before they are born to when the leave for college. It combines effective academic programs with strong health and social services to combat the effects of poverty and improve education and access to opportunities.

Delivering a high-quality education to all our students is a key to winning the future. With today’s budget announcement, President Obama has set out the building blocks for making sure that all students graduate high school.

President Obama: Cutting the Deficit and Investing in the Future

Mary Hough — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:29:01 EST

At a middle school in Baltimore this morning, President Obama spoke about his 2012 budget he proposed today. Stressing the importance of fiscal responsibility, the President pledged to reduce discretionary domestic spending to its lowest level since President Eisenhower, while maintaining investment in the areas that will have the biggest impact on our future—innovation, education, and infrastructure.

I’m also convinced that the only way we can make these investments in our future is if our government starts living within its means, if we start taking responsibility for our deficits. That’s why, when I was sworn in as President, I pledged to cut the deficit in half by the end of my first term. The budget I’m proposing today meets that pledge—and puts us on a path to pay for what we spend by the middle of the decade. We do this in part by eliminating waste and cutting whatever spending we can do without.

The President also set out where some of these savings would be found:

Now, some of the savings will come through less waste and more efficiency. To take just one example, by getting rid of 14,000 office buildings, lots and government-owned properties we no longer need, we can save taxpayers billions of dollars. And when it comes to programs we do need, we’re making them work better by demanding accountability. Instead of spending first, and asking questions later, we’re rewarding folks inside and outside government who deliver results. And to make sure that special interests aren’t larding up legislation with pet projects, I’ve pledged to veto any bill that contains earmarks.

The savings needed can’t come through minimizing waste and increasing efficiency alone. The President acknowledged that some of the programs he cares most about, such as community action programs in low-income neighborhoods, will have to be cut. He also highlighted other areas of spending where savings could be found, supported by the conclusions of the bipartisan fiscal commission:

We’ve begun to [cut excessive spending] with $78 billion in cuts in the Defense Department’s budget plan, by ending tax breaks for oil and gas companies, and through billions of dollars in savings from wasteful health spending—savings we’ll use to make sure doctors don’t see their reimbursements slashed and that they stay in the system seeing patients.

The President called on Democrats and Republicans to work together to find long-term solutions to reducing the deficit and pledged to make sure that in reducing our deficit we don’t “sacrifice our future:”

Education is an investment that we need to win the future—just like innovation is an investment that we need to win the future; just like infrastructure is an investment that we need to win the future. And to make sure that we can afford these investments, we’re going to have to get serious about cutting back on those things that would be nice to have but we can do without.
That’s what families across the country do every day—they live within their means and they invest in their family’s futures. And it’s time we did the same thing as a country. That’s how we’re going to get our fiscal house in order. That’s how we’ll grow our economy and attract new jobs to our shores. And that’s how America will win the future in the 21st century.

President Obama’s 2012 Budget: A Plan to Win the Future

Josh Cohen — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 10:44:48 EST

Today, President Obama submitted to Congress his 2012 budget, a plan to help America out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world. This plan responsibly trims wasteful government spending while still fueling the incubators of growth: education, innovation, clean energy, and infrastructure. It’s a strategy to create jobs right now, grow the economy for the long run, and ensure government works for all Americans.

A budget is more than just a list of numbers – it represents the President’s priorities for the future. President Obama’s budget is a responsible approach that makes tough choices on things we simply can’t afford, just like so many American families do every day.

Here are highlights from President Obama’s plan to win the future.

Education: The President is committed to improving America’s schools and providing the opportunity of higher education to any student who wants it. His plan:

Continues the maximum Pell Grant award that will help 9 million students afford college.

Reforms funding for K-12 schools by raising standards, encouraging innovative teaching techniques, and rewarding success.

Draws on the Race to the Top concept, encouraging competition for success in early-childhood education, school districts, university funding, and education-job training.

Trains 100,000 new science, technology, engineering, and math teachers.

Innovation: President Obama aims to strengthen the heartbeat of American industry. The plan:

Invests $146 billion in research and development and biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health – and more than doubles energy efficiency research and development.
Works to put one million electric cars on the road by 2015, double the current share of clean-energy electricity by 2035, and reduce the costs of powering buildings.
Eliminates 12 tax breaks to oil, gas, and coal companies.
Simplifies, expands, and makes permanent the research and development tax credit.
Creates 20 new Economic Growth Zones, which provide tax incentives to economically depressed areas to help jump-start investment and employment.

Infrastructure: President Obama’s budget details his commitment to helping rebuild America – to improving roads, bridges, trains, buildings, high-speech Internet access, and the other cornerstones of economic growth. His plan:

Creates jobs in the short term with a $50 billion investment to establish a National Infrastructure Bank, supporting important building projects and bringing high-speed rail to 80 percent of Americans within 25 years.
Builds a wireless broadband network to bring high-speed Internet to 98 percent of Americans, and establishes a network for public safety.

Fiscal responsibility: Having inherited a massive budget deficit, President Obama is dedicated to ensuring government lives within its means. The President’s budget:

Freezes non-security discretionary spending for five years to reduce the deficit by over $400 billion and bring spending to its lowest level since President Eisenhower.
Cuts government infrastructure programs with an uncertain record of success and those programs the government simply can no longer afford.
Reduces Pentagon spending over the next five years, bringing defense spending down to zero real growth – including spending related to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Patches the Alternative Minimum Tax for three years so that middle-class families aren’t hit with a crippling tax increase.
Works with Congress to simplify the tax system, eliminate special-interest loopholes, level the playing field, and reduce corporate taxes for the first time in 25 years – all without adding to the deficit.

Government reform: It’s critical to make sure that all Americans are well served, and that their tax dollars are never wasted. That’s why President Obama’s budget:

Cuts nearly $2 billion in administrative overhead costs such as printing, travel, and supplies.
Uses the Race to the Top model and creates competitive grant programs in early childhood education and college, transportation, workforce training, and energy efficiency.

Click here to learn more.

Weekly Address: "It's Time Washington Acted as Responsibly as Our Families Do"

Josh Cohen — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 17:08:41 EST

President Obama discusses the upcoming release of his budget, explaining that it will help the government live within its means while making the necessary investments to help Americans win the future.

President Obama: Egypt is the moral force that bent the arc of history toward justice once more

Josh Cohen — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:55:31 EST

Following news reports that Hosni Mubarak resigned as the Egyptian president, President Obama delivered the following remarks:

There are very few moments in our lives where we have the privilege to witness history taking place. This is one of those moments. This is one of those times. The people of Egypt have spoken, their voices have been heard, and Egypt will never be the same.

By stepping down, President Mubarak responded to the Egyptian people’s hunger for change. But this is not the end of Egypt’s transition. It’s a beginning. I’m sure there will be difficult days ahead, and many questions remain unanswered. But I am confident that the people of Egypt can find the answers, and do so peacefully, constructively, and in the spirit of unity that has defined these last few weeks. For Egyptians have made it clear that nothing less than genuine democracy will carry the day.

The military has served patriotically and responsibly as a caretaker to the state, and will now have to ensure a transition that is credible in the eyes of the Egyptian people. That means protecting the rights of Egypt’s citizens, lifting the emergency law, revising the constitution and other laws to make this change irreversible, and laying out a clear path to elections that are fair and free. Above all, this transition must bring all of Egypt’s voices to the table. For the spirit of peaceful protest and perseverance that the Egyptian people have shown can serve as a powerful wind at the back of this change.

The United States will continue to be a friend and partner to Egypt. We stand ready to provide whatever assistance is necessary -- and asked for -- to pursue a credible transition to a democracy. I’m also confident that the same ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that the young people of Egypt have shown in recent days can be harnessed to create new opportunity -- jobs and businesses that allow the extraordinary potential of this generation to take flight. And I know that a democratic Egypt can advance its role of responsible leadership not only in the region but around the world.

Egypt has played a pivotal role in human history for over 6,000 years. But over the last few weeks, the wheel of history turned at a blinding pace as the Egyptian people demanded their universal rights.

We saw mothers and fathers carrying their children on their shoulders to show them what true freedom might look like.

We saw a young Egyptian say, “For the first time in my life, I really count. My voice is heard. Even though I’m only one person, this is the way real democracy works.”

We saw protesters chant “Selmiyya, selmiyya” -- “We are peaceful” -- again and again.

We saw a military that would not fire bullets at the people they were sworn to protect.

And we saw doctors and nurses rushing into the streets to care for those who were wounded, volunteers checking protesters to ensure that they were unarmed.

We saw people of faith praying together and chanting – “Muslims, Christians, We are one.” And though we know that the strains between faiths still divide too many in this world and no single event will close that chasm immediately, these scenes remind us that we need not be defined by our differences. We can be defined by the common humanity that we share.

And above all, we saw a new generation emerge -- a generation that uses their own creativity and talent and technology to call for a government that represented their hopes and not their fears; a government that is responsive to their boundless aspirations. One Egyptian put it simply: Most people have discovered in the last few days…that they are worth something, and this cannot be taken away from them anymore, ever.

This is the power of human dignity, and it can never be denied. Egyptians have inspired us, and they’ve done so by putting the lie to the idea that justice is best gained through violence. For in Egypt, it was the moral force of nonviolence -- not terrorism, not mindless killing -- but nonviolence, moral force that bent the arc of history toward justice once more.

And while the sights and sounds that we heard were entirely Egyptian, we can’t help but hear the echoes of history -- echoes from Germans tearing down a wall, Indonesian students taking to the streets, Gandhi leading his people down the path of justice.

As Martin Luther King said in celebrating the birth of a new nation in Ghana while trying to perfect his own, “There is something in the soul that cries out for freedom.” Those were the cries that came from Tahrir Square, and the entire world has taken note.

Today belongs to the people of Egypt, and the American people are moved by these scenes in Cairo and across Egypt because of who we are as a people and the kind of world that we want our children to grow up in.

The word Tahrir means liberation. It is a word that speaks to that something in our souls that cries out for freedom. And forevermore it will remind us of the Egyptian people -- of what they did, of the things that they stood for, and how they changed their country, and in doing so changed the world.

Thank you.

“I Am Walking on Air with a Huge Smile on My Face”

Mary Hough — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:01:59 EST

Ellen, an OFA Community Organizer from Pewaukee, Milwaukee, WI, received an invitation to a very special Super Bowl party last Sunday at the White House. Ellen started volunteering on the 2008 campaign, and now mentors several community organizers in Milwaukee, who each coordiante their own volunteer teams. A strong supporter of President Obama, she is committed to organizing as a way to unite a neighborhood, a city, a state, and our country.

I was one of a lucky few to receive an email from President and Mrs. Obama, inviting me and a guest to the White House for a Super Bowl party.
I struggled with the question of what to wear. In the end, though, there was only one choice—coming from Wisconsin, it had to be my Packers jersey.
After arriving at the White House on Super Bowl Sunday, my husband Pat and I went through the receiving line and were greeted by President and Mrs. Obama. It was such a thrill.
But that was just the beginning. Besides eating wonderful, tasty food and keeping an eye on the score of the football game, the President greeted everyone at each table.
It was an excellent opportunity for me to meet elected officials and others that have the President and First Lady’s ears. I spoke with several mayors from our state, heard their concerns and their priorities for the coming weeks, and talked about how local OFA teams and volunteers can support them.
I also proudly introduced myself to other guests as a volunteer community organizer with Organizing for America, putting in 30 to 40 hours a week with my volunteer teams. In keeping with the spirit of our organization, I made sure to share my passion and my story for why I continue to stay involved and volunteer.
As for the rest of the trip, the Super Bowl win by the Packers was icing on the cake.
The visit to the White House was a priceless moment in my life that I will never forget.

Investments in Infrastructure to Grow our Economy

Josh Cohen — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 10:18:27 EST

In his State of the Union address, President Obama committed to help rebuild America – to renew the physical and operational structure that allows our country to function. To reach this goal, the President aims to improve roads, bridges, trains, buildings, high-speech Internet access, and crucial types of infrastructure that enable growth. These investments will create jobs in the short term and prime our country for future growth in the long run.

Throughout history, America’s infrastructure has always been our foundation of growth. As we connected the country through a transcontinental railroad, new cities and communities emerged – and with them, businesses sprouted with the cheap and efficient transport of goods and services. FDR’s Rural Electrification Administration gave power to millions across the country, ushering in a new standard of living. The Internet launched an economic revolution and gave the power of information to anyone with access – and the sky-high potential it affords.

The promise of similar transformation still rings true today.

Earlier this week, Vice President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood traveled to Philadelphia to announce a plan to connect 80 percent of households with high-speed rail over the next 25 years. To meet that goal, the administration dedicated $53 billion over six years to building a high-speech and intercity passenger rail network across the country.

A long time Amtrak rider and rail advocate, Vice President Biden said:

I understand the need to invest in a modern rail system that will help connect communities, reduce congestion and create quality, skilled manufacturing jobs that cannot be outsourced. This plan will help us to do that, while also increasing access to convenient high speed rail for more Americans.

The modernization of freight railroads and subway systems create construction jobs for local workers and open industry gateways between cities and towns throughout America. These improvements in freight allow ranchers and farmers to ship livestock and produce to new markets. Upgrades to the subway system like the one in New York City mean faster commutes to work and improved productivity and quality of life. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner writes:

More subway capacity means less congested streets, less time spent stuck in traffic, faster deliveries of goods to city stores, and less smog in the air. However, the decision to increase capacity in New York also means that the far-away Kawasaki plant in Lincoln, Nebraska that manufactures the subway cars will increase production, putting Nebraskans to work.

And yesterday in Marquette, Michigan, President Obama announced a National Wireless Initiative to extend high-speed Internet access to 98 percent of Americans over the next five years. This commitment will give businesses and entrepreneurs access to cutting edge information by making better use of government broadband spectrum, investing in more research and development in wireless technologies and applications, and working with private-companies to meet these goals. Plus, it will devote nearly $10 billion of spectrum revenue to reducing the budget deficit.

As President Obama said:

[W]e have always believed that we have a responsibility to guarantee all our people every tool necessary for them to meet their full potential. And in a 21st century economy, that has never been more important. Every American deserves access to the world’s information. Every American deserves access to the global economy. We have promised this for fifteen years. It is time we delivered on that promise.

President Obama’s commitment to infrastructure investment is part of his vision to “out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.” These initiatives will help to fulfill the promise of that vision.

Winning the Future with Small Businesses

Mary Hough — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:20:31 EST

The success of small businesses is the key to our economic recovery. In the coming days, Organizing for America volunteers around the country will be heading to Main Street, to get the word out about new tax credits and benefits that can help small businesses thrive.

Volunteers will be talking to business owners and managers in their communities about the measures that President Obama and Democrats in Congress have put in place to help their businesses grow—such as the Startup America program, new loan opportunities, and the Affordable Care Act.

These are the measures that will give small business the tools they need to continue growing the economy and creating new jobs. OFA volunteers are going to be doing everything they can to encourage business owners to take up these tools and bring jobs and opportunities back to their communities.

You can find out more about talking to small businesses where you live here.

Our African American Heroes

Elizabeth Chan — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:26:42 EST

As we celebrate February as National African American History Month, staffers at Organizing for America have been sharing stories of African Americans who have had an influence on their lives and guided them to careers in grassroots organizing.

Steve Walker, OFA's southern regional director, told the life story of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. Despite his major contributions to the civil rights movement for both African Americans and LGBT Americans, Rustin isn't a household name. As an openly gay African American man, his life's work inspired Walker, who writes:

"Rustin lived as a proud, openly gay African American in a time where neither was deemed acceptable. A natural and dedicated community organizer, Bayard Rustin championed many causes, including school integration and unions. In the early 1980s, he also spoke out in support of people living with AIDS.
"After traveling through India, Rustin advised Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the core principles and tactics of nonviolent resistance—like those practiced by Mahatma Gandhi. The 1963 March on Washington was Rustin's doing—he planned the march, guided the organization, selected and advised speakers—but he did all this work from behind the scenes with very little recognition.
"I am not alone in being inspired by the actions of Bayard Rustin. I owe much of my ability to work, live, and love as an openly gay African American man to his groundbreaking presence. It's an honor and privilege to work for the same Democratic Party that Rustin supported some 50 years ago."

Shauntá Floyd, OFA's regional operations director, found inspiration in Shirley Chisholm, a political powerhouse who fought for racial and economic inequalities and on behalf of women's rights in the House of Representatives and on the presidential campaign trail.

Floyd says:

"Shirley Chisholm stood at the forefront and gave African American women a voice in the political arena. Her fight for the low-income community of Bedford-Stuyvesant in New York ignited her passion and fueled her career.
"Chisholm was the first black woman and second woman ever to serve as a member of the U.S House of Representatives Rules Committee. Chisholm also was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971 and the Congressional Women's Caucus in 1977. Additionally, in 1972 Chisholm became the first African American to run for president of the United States.
"When she launched her presidential campaign, Chisholm said: ‘I stand before you today as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the presidency of the United States. I am not the candidate of black America, although I am black and proud. I am not the candidate of the women's movement of this country, although I am a woman, and I am equally proud of that. I am not the candidate of any political bosses or special interests. I am the candidate of the people.’
"Chisholm's legacy taught me that there are no limits for me as an African American woman in this day and age. I can be the change I seek and leave a path for other generations of Americans to follow."

You can read more stories of Organizing for America's African American heroes here.

Stories of Health Reform: OFA Supporters

Mary Hough — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:13:37 EST

Throughout the country, Organizing for America supporters have been coming together to share their stories of how the Affordable Care Act is helping them, their friends, and families.

Mark Dodson, from OFA Washington, spoke to Don, a small business owner in Vancouver, WA, who said health reform is “the best thing government has done for me in 30 years.”

Matthew Elias, OFA Illinos new media director, heard from Carla whose whole family has benefited from reform—he cost of her mom’s prescription medication has fallen, her daughter can now stay on Carla’s insurance until she is 26, and Carla is free from worry that she will be denied coverage because of her pre-existing condition.

Ron, an OFA supporter and small business owner in Nevada, explained how the Affordable Care Act has helped him:

“I own and operate a small garage door installation company with five employees. As a business owner, I’ve always done the right thing: providing my employees with health insurance. The cost of the insurance is crushing my business.
“I support our efforts to reform our health insurance system with the Affordable Care Act. The status quo is not fair to small businesses. We all know that small businesses are the heart of the American economy. The truth is that small businesses are dying a slow death thanks to the exorbitant cost of health insurance. That’s why we need the Affordable Care Act to save the economic engine that drives growth and innovation in our country.”

Kris, from Las Cruces, NM, talked to Tia Upchurch-Freelove, OFA New Mexico regional field director, about why she supports health reform:

“My husband and I are looking forward to participating in the health care exchanges to find new, more affordable care and get out from underneath the $14,000 we are paying each year for our current coverage. We can't bear to have the Affordable Care Act repealed.”

These are just a few of the millions of Americans who are already benefiting from health reform. Share your story of how health reform helps you, and spread the word that health reform is working.

How We’re Winning the Future

Mary Hough — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 10:47:10 EST

It’s been just two weeks since the President delivered his State of the Union address, setting out his vision for winning the future by out-innovating, out-educating, and out-building the rest of the world.

Since then, the President has announced a range of initiatives to help deliver on the commitments he made—such as Startup America, which will support entrepreneurs to make their dreams a reality, and the continuation of Race To The Top, which will help deliver high quality education in all our schools.

President Obama has also been traveling the country, meeting and talking to hardworking Americans who are setting a great example of how to win the future.

In Manitowoc, Wisconsin, President Obama visited Orion Energy Systems, a solar power company. He talked about the clean-energy companies, like Orion, that have been setting up shop locally, providing jobs for those who became unemployed when traditional manufacturing jobs moved overseas, and leading the way with new, clean-energy technologies

I think it’s important…that America, that our government has to invest in innovation. It’s important to remember that this plant, this company has also been supported over the years not just by the Department of Agriculture and the Small Business Administration, but by tax credits and awards we created to give a leg up to renewable energy companies.

Visiting Penn State University, the President set out how the administration will continue to support innovation in clean energy:

So we’re telling scientists and we’re telling engineers all across the country that if they assemble teams of the best minds in their fields, and focus on tackling the biggest obstacles to clean, abundant, and affordable energy, then we’re going to get behind their work. We as a country will invest in them. We’ll get them all in one place and we’ll support their research. And we call these places, energy innovation hubs.

The President also took the opportunity to announce the launch of the Better Buildings Initiative, to be funded by cutting subsidies to oil companies.

[I]t’s a plan to dramatically improve the energy efficiency of America’s businesses over the next decade. …[B]y reaching this goal, we could save America’s businesses nearly $40 billion a year in their utility bills. Think about that—$40 billion. That's money that could be spent growing those businesses and hiring new workers

At the Chamber of Commerce, the President called on the public and private sectors to work together to make sure that all this investment in American innovation leads to American jobs.

And if we as a nation are going to invest in innovation, that innovation should lead to new jobs and manufacturing on our shores. The end result of tax breaks and investments can’t simply be that new breakthroughs and technologies are discovered here in America, but then the manufacturing takes place overseas. That, too, breaks the social compact. It makes people feel as if the game is fixed and they’re not benefiting from the extraordinary discoveries that take place here."

Visiting Philadelphia yesterday, Vice President Biden announced a key investment in high-speed rail.

The $8 billion investment in high-speed rail the President is proposing just for next year will help revitalize the domestic rail industry, as well as foster innovation and job creation by connecting major population centers. Strong “Buy American” requirements will create tens of thousands of middle-class jobs in construction, manufacturing, and rail operations.

These initiatives—Startup America, Race To The Top, the Better Building Initiative, energy innovation hubs, high-speed rail, and many more that will be announced in the weeks and months ahead—are key to America out-innovating, out-educating, and out-building the rest of the world. It’s through these that President Obama will deliver on the commitments he made in his State of the Union address, helping America to win the future.